Aquarian Angel

Blue Six | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 13, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Naked Music
• ASIN: B000MM1FNM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #122,391 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Fans of the genre called deep house owe much to pioneers like Jay Denes, whose Beautiful Tomorrow (2002), recorded under the moniker Blue Six, introduced many to a silky and impeccably produced cocktail of jazz-house soundscapes. For fanciers of Tomorrow, Aquarian Angel--which is chock full of the vocal stylings of house sirens Lisa Shaw and LT (Aya)--does not disappoint. On the captivating "Here I Come," Shaw's smoky voice chants "this day's done, build another in its place" over a chilled organ line, and LT's singing makes the title track a spot-on lullaby for the urban set. Like Tomorrow, Angel is house made more for the lounge or beach than the floor, as the lush harmonies of "Half Life" and the Brazilian-inflected "I've Given Enough," whose throaty sax line that would make Chet Baker smile, attest. And while some may find Angel's atmospherics a bit saccharine, Denes's crystalline mixing is truly astounding. There is also a sincerity and dimension to the music that sets Angel apart from the genre's more formulaic productions and lures the listener back to tracks that don't immediately make sense. After all, they call it "deep" house for a reason. --Brent Kallmer

Product Description

Blue Six, the production alias of Jay Denes, New York-based musician and co-founder of the highly-regarded Naked Music label, will release his eagerly-anticipated second full-length album, Aquarian Angel on March 13, 2007. By blending underground sensibilities with soulful grooves and lyrical seductiveness, Aquarian Angel continues to do what Blue Six and Naked Music are known for - taking dance music to the next level with mature albums that are synonymous with soulful, stylish sophistication.

Originally a production company, Naked Music was formed in 1998 by Jay Denes and his partner, fellow musician Dave Boonshoft. As the signature artist who captured the essence of the label, Blue Six quickly proceeded to capture the attention of the music scene with their underground dance classics "Sweeter Love" and "Music & Wine" rapidly becoming the ubiquitous soundtrack for scores of clubs, restaurants and bars, from New York to London to Paris.

Aquarian Angel is the follow up to Blue Six's full-length Naked Music debut, Beautiful Tomorrow (2004), which was a dazzling collection of tracks that combined dance grooves and R&B vocals with darkly intelligent lyrics. Aquarian Angel takes all the elements that made Beautiful Tomorrow so well loved and evolves into adult dance grooves and R&B-styled vocals that are cross-fertilized with Brazilian beats, ambient backdrops, and elements of jazz. Additionally, the upcoming CD reunites Jay with the three unique voices that helped make Beautiful Tomorrow such a classic: The triumvirate of label mates, Aya, Lisa Shaw and Catherine Russell return to lend their very different vocals styles, three distinct voices that, over the course of the album, combine to create that instantly recognizable Blue Six sound.

Denes spent the time between Beautiful Tomorrow and Aquarian Angel producing solo albums for both Aya and Lisa Shaw. Aya's "Strange Flower" and Lisa's "Cherry" garnered rave reviews and continue to get consistent radio-play worldwide. After these two intense collaborations, he was ready to compose the Aquarian song-cycle, writing each piece with a specific vocalist in mind. Musically, he has concocted a hybrid that combines his own expert manipulation of state-of-the-art computer technology with the warmth and unpredictability of live musicianship. As a result, Aquarian Angel breathes with a life of its own as it caresses your body and plays with your mind. "Tropicalia", a lush Afro-Brazilian track that features Lisa Shaw, is the first single off the album. Its infectious percussion-driven rhythms will entice DJ's of all stripes.

"On Aquarian Angel I threw all my musical preconceptions out the window," says Denes. "My only intention was to communicate my thoughts and feelings as they presented themselves to me. I think the end result is more varied and broader in scope than my previous work and will ultimately be as meaningful to my listeners as it has been to me."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Blue Six - Aquarian Angel, April 5, 2007

By 

T. Snyder "TS" (AZ) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Aquarian Angel (Audio CD)

At first listen, I didn't really like "Aquarian Angel" all that much. I was hoping for something more upbeat and danceable.

Thankfully though, I gave it a second listen. I listened to it again in the car in rush-hour Phoenix traffic (which is always an awful experience). However, on this day, it was not stressing me out because Blue Six was playing. I've since listened to it a for few days now in the car and it's always very relaxing. It's very calming and soothing, without being cheesey.

This would be essential late night listening. It has a very cool, chillout, sexy, R&B vibe throughout. I'm really glad I gave this album a second chance!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!!, March 21, 2007

By 

maurice braxton (columbus, oh United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Aquarian Angel (Audio CD)

Many artist cannot duplicate back to back great albums. This album is better than the first. Oh I love Aya's voice. My favorite track is Aquarian Angel sung by her. As I listen to this cd I could tell that Jay Denes poured his heart and soul into this one. Thank God for artist like Jay,Aya,Lisa and Katherine who make music from the heart and not selling out to pop music. Many artist want a record deal with the mega labels only to find out that the label will control everything you do including your sound.
Thank God for the Naked Music label who allows artist to truly be themselves and make beautiful music. I will always support artist like this. House and Electronica is the best and this cd is the best so far for 2007.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, March 17, 2007

By 

Multiplex (NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Aquarian Angel (Audio CD)

Yet again, another solid release from what i consider to be one of the best labels (Naked Music)out there. The combination of Aya, Lisa Shaw and Jay Denes make this album a must have!