3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Ambient Supergroup Classic, March 21, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Automatic (Audio CD)
The return of Bill Nelson is evident on this 1994 release. Kicking off with a criminally-ignored 3 minute slice of pop ambience, "Testify" has Nelson singing lead and playing wild bass, Kate St John singing background, Roger Eno's rollicking piano & gurgling synths, Laraaji's electric zither, and a brief but excellent Nelson guitar solo in the middle. This is followed by several instrumental tracks where the various members, including cellist Mayumi Tachibana, have their go with an ambient background. It's all luscious, gorgeous, and transcends the "ambient" and "new age" tags quite easily.
There's a couple additional vocal tracks, "A Place We Pray For" features Kate and "Thunderous Accordians" features Bill again, but they're less "pop" oriented. Intertwined are more instrumentals, all of which equally enjoyable slabs of ambient/chamber/new age charm.
I've owned this album since it came out in 1994 and have never tired of it. Normally I don't get into New Age stuff, but this is marvellous.
This band has another album released in 1996 called "Excellent Spirits". It's a bit different, less New Age/Ambient and more pop-oriented, but still quite beautiful even though the cellist isn't involved on that release.
Very few people have heard of this album, so hopefully this review will spur more people on to buy this enjoyable album!
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good colaboration., March 26, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Automatic (Audio CD)
For the fans expecting New Age and Ambient,trade marks of Laraaji and R.Eno this is not too close. Don't worry, probably you will find the best intimate atmosphere, supported from Kate St.John gently voice and Bill Nelson's guitar.I also recommend "Excellent Spirits" as a deeper continuity of this masterpiece.Just buy them!
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
music for a slow afternoon, March 21, 2002
This review is from: Automatic (Audio CD)
Channel Light Vessel are Bill Nelson,Roger Eno,Laaraji and Kate St John.I am supposing that if you have found this page then you know of at least one of these people and their work.I think this disc would be a welcome addition to the collections of fans of any of the participants.
I found myself quite delighted by "Automatic".The ebb and flow of the disc is just perfect,with the subtle yet intricate tunes working there magic effortlessly.
Perfect for quiet moments ,slow afternoons or rainy days.
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