Customer Reviews

Best of Lisa Gerrard

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I only gave it four stars, because if you're already a diehard Dead Can Dance fan, then you already have most of these songs. So, for Dead Can Dance fans like me, there is only a little here I haven't heard before.

If this is meant to be a "best of", then I think these are poor choices. I'm not entirely sure what's the premise of this album, since Gerrard has made many better songs than these. It's just a collection of a few of her songs. Nothing from Duality, either. What a shame!

Overall, the album is pleasant to listen to. It's very calm. The songs are all nice to listen to. The last three songs and the first two songs are new to me.

There are major problems with this compilation. One thing it has in common with 4AD's Cocteau Twins "Best Of" is that it over-emphasizes one aspect of the artist, i.e the ethereal side. In this instance, the world music/neo-folk aspect of the Gerrard oevre is under-represented, which is all the more frustrating because of the limitations she imposes on herself whilst in ambient/ethereal mode.
Lisa tends to work best when collaborating - or rather, when collaborating with someone with a very different temperament. E.g: brendan Perry and Pieter Bourke. Left to her own devices she tends to write one kind of "song" over and over again - and it quickly becomes boring (especially in the case of the Immortal Memory album, in which Patrick Casady's contribution is not totally clear).
Had this album contained more diverse material - for example, replace four of the later tracks with "As The Bell Rings The Maypole Spins", "Circum Radiant Dawn", "The Human Game" and "Hymn For The Fallen" - it really would have served its purpose as a best-of.
As it is - I can't recommend this, except to lapsed collectors wanting to sample her soundtrack work. And they're advised to proceed with caution.
Curious newcomers are advised to check out Duality (especially if you can find the two-disc edition) or any DCD album.

I listened to this twice this afternoon. I knew that Ms Gerrard was the singer from the Australian group, Dead Can Dance, but I hadn't heard any of her solo material.

The music presented here is in a style similar to that of John Foxx in his three Cathedral Oceans CDs, i.e. soundscapes, layered, ethereal and ambient sounds. Of course, a major difference is that Ms Gerrard sings much more in her pieces. Her voice ranges from a light soprano to a much darker and almost "contralto-ish" chest register. She sings with considerable projection in her lowest octave (she seems to sing in a range of just over two octaves, in my estimation) and her timbre is almost masculine - even a little "countertenorish". Her vibrato is a little more marked in this region of her voice and I slightly preferred her sound in here upper, "head-voice" register. However, this is just nit-picking and I was generally impressed with Lisa Gerrard's singing and compositional skills (some rather affecting and occasionally surprising chord changes occur in several of her songs on this disc).

Okay, this is a compilation album and many folk will already have these tracks on other recordings. Lisa Gerrard was involved in the music for the Gladiator soundtrack and she's contributed music for other soundtracks, too, apparently. So I have heard her music before, even though I confess that I was barely aware of doing so. However, it is nice to experience a "concentrated dose" Lisa Gerrard's Art.

I liked this disc and I played it twice this afternoon at work. I am not sure if others will like this recording, some folks have criticised my tastes recently, so I have to say that I cannot confidently recommend this recording to all. I liked it, that's all.

I had no idea what this was beyond having heard one of the cuts on an online station and liking it. She uses her voice as an instrument, not for lyrics, even though it sometimes sounds like she's singing in a different language than English. This is uplifting and beautiful music. I got a lot of "wow factor" listening to it. Great at work (office) for background. Excellent on the home stereo for dedicated listening. Not party music, unless you call an evening with friends, sitting around drinking wine, a party environment. Ihave a good music system. I put this on, turn it up, turn down the lights and let it wash over me. Really powerful stuff.

I was recently introduced to Lisa Gerrard/Dead Can Dance music and was instantly blown away. Like the first time I heard Pink Floyd's album, Dark Side of the Moon, the music instantly drew me in and I have been a huge fan every since. The same thing happened to me when I heard Lisa Gerrard/Dead Can Dance song, The Host of Seraphim, which, btw, is on this album.:)


That said, the music on this album is very moody yet soothing. I would go so far as to describe the music as haunting at times. Something you would listen to if you were intent on relaxing and just zoning out. There appear to be many influences in the sound of the music. It sounds as though the music was inspired from many countries all over the world, along with the Gothic period where the sound is what you imagine hearing back when in some Medieval Cathedral.

Anyway, this a great album and I highly recommend it!

I first starting listing to Lisa Gerrard because of a neighbor who thought the music in Gladiator was emotionally outstanding. We had some discussion as to what language she may be singing in and I did some research to find out that it is a language that Lisa Gerrard made up herself beginning around age 12. Her way of talking to God. It is a beautiful CD and wonderful music just to relax to and feel the flow.

AMAZING vocals on this CD. Music is very haunting but relaxing at the same time. Tranforms you into a whole different world!

Incredibly original in style and sound, I find her very avant-garde and is one of my favorties in the sound of her instruments and voice. I have most of her CDs has been involved in many film score projects and many are in this CD. She has a Celtic sound and is quite unique in her voice and brings out emotions that are deeply hidden in oneself.

Having fallen in love with The Silver Tree, this was my 2nd purchase of Lisa Gerrards. This album lost that familiar feel I had treasured in the Silver Tree and seemed simply to try to sample each and every musical culture...losing its focus.

That being said...I respect the artist tremendously and recognize I may be missing something...as I'm a new fan and don't know her other works in depth.

I originally heard parts of this work in the movie "The Insider" and just fell in love with this music-it is so stirring and other worldly. The whole CD was just filled with more of the same. Thank you for the prompt service. S. Kirk