Before Sleep Comes

Luka Bloom | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Bar/None Records
• ASIN: B0002PUHBK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,723 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

9 new songs for insomniacs.

Last fall a bout of tendonitis restricted Luka Bloom from playing his traditionally aggressive style of steel-string guitar. While gently strumming on his Spanish nylon string guitar, he came up with a new approach to his art. As he explains in the liner notes to this disc, "Necessity is the mother of invention." New songs began to emerge as Luka fashioned a softer, more contemplative style of playing. Singing in a whisper that almost begs you to draw in closer, Luka performs beautiful new originals and re-interprets classic Celtic ballads like "The Water Is Wide," "I’ll Walk Beside You" and "She Moved Through the Fair." The overall effect is utterly romantic, totally soothing. This is chill-out music for the soul. Put it on and drift away with Luka Bloom, before sleep comes.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible, May 11, 2005

By 

A. Roach - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Before Sleep Comes (Audio CD)

Whether intentionally or not, some of the reviews I've read seem to make this sound like a novelty album. It is not - it is a beautiful work of art as the first reviewer says. If you like music, you will love this album. I was impressed by his guitar work myself - very subtle, but very accomplished. I own 3 Luka Bloom albums and on first listen, this one shot right to the top of my favorites.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply, Quietly, Beautiful, April 21, 2005

By 

C Smith "JustJames.org" (CUYAHOGA FALLS, OH, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Before Sleep Comes (Audio CD)

As a guitar player myself, I can only imagine the horror of dealing with a potentially career-threatening medical condition. This is the backdrop against which Before Sleep Comes was written and recorded. While most musicians would likely brood about the possible end of their musical journey, Luka Bloom continued to create. The result is a quietly beautiful work of art. The songs are gentle, rolling and stark - but always pretty and introspective. This collection of songs is the silver lining in what could have been a very dark cloud for Luka Bloom. Of his more recent works, this is his most intimate and moving.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars To ease your way out of the day..., November 17, 2004

By 

V. Romani "traveler" (New York) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Before Sleep Comes (Audio CD)

Before Sleep Comes has been one of those releases that has quietly, in the style of the album itself, found a market in those looking for soothing music. There's a conscious progression leading the listener toward sleep or a relaxed, meditative state, without being in the 'new age/easy listening' category of relaxing music which I've found sometimes lacks for interesting songs.
In this collection, each song is played with what is deceptive simplicity, but actual masterful guitar and vocals by Mr. Bloom. The arrangement of traditional tunes such as My Singing Bird, Nora, She Moved Though the Fair, The Water is Wide and the truly beautiful I'll Walk Beside You, suit this musician's new style and ability to breath unique life into well known tunes.
His orginal songs on this album are lovely visual as well as musical journeys. The lyrics, affecting and warm, paint engaging pictures of the subjects he choses. As in Camomile, Before Sleep Comes, or She Sings Her Songs With Open Eyes. Which took a while before I got to hear in full wakefullness as I'd not last awake to the final track which is the album's exact intentions.
This songwriter has a gift with creating a visual medium in his lyrics which make him a wonderful storyteller. And with your mind involved in seeing as well as hearing the various portraits and interactions, you find yourself lost in a collection of wonderful bedtime stories. And all this comes complete with the sound of wind rustling trees, floorboards creaking and birds singing while it was being recorded in an old mill converted into a studio in the Irish countryside.
I've found people who enjoy a wide variety of music during the day to very much enjoy adding this cd to their collection for when they want to unwind or let go of a hard day and rest.
If it is possilbe to package warm soothing tea and/or a relaxing book being skillfully read to you, in a musical element, this is where you'll find it.