Customer Reviews

Birds of Passage

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The second release from the unique Norwegian group Bel Canto is a significant improvement over White-Out Conditions, which was already a fine album. On Birds of Passage, Bel Canto marries the gorgeous female vocals of Anneli Drecker, frosty and languid synth textures, subtle electronica rhythms, and ethnic touches. The difference here compared to White-Out Conditions is that the group has expanded their lush sonic tapestry with more diverse instruments (violins, cellos, trumpets, dynamic keyboards, "stardust," whatever that is...). Also, the overall sound is much warmer because Drecker's voice sounds soooo much prettier on this album. She has abandoned that clipped form of singing that sometimes irked me on the previous album, and now she lets the words flow with grace and fine control. Her voice is the main instrument, and she more commanding by not flaunting her singing ability and just singing with the song. When she's not singing low and spooky, as on the Depeche Mode-ish "Intravenous" or parts of "Look 3", she has one of the prettiest voices out there. On one song, "Time Without End," Drecker is accompanied by bandmate Nils Johansen on vocals, and their harmonies create a nice effect, even if Johansen isn't that great a singer. Most songs are slow-tempo beauties, although there's the feisty, Mediterranean-flavored "The Glassmaker," where Drecker whoops and coos playfully, and "Oyster," where Drecker sounds a little peppier, with a lovely and cool melody fixing the chorus. Drecker's voice will melt you on this song. By the way, if anyone's wondering what Bel Canto means, I think it's Italian for "beautiful song." Fitting name, methinks.

Haunting melodies, poetic lyrics, incredible vocals. Bel Canto is the best "unknown group" you will ever find.

Bel Canto is a native Norwegian group that's hard to categorize, and that's an understatement. I could easily praise this band with every honorable word in the dictionary but you'd still be left feeling clueless because they've got such a unique sound that's entirely their own. At times you'll think the lyrics are made up of their own creative tongue set to the passion of the moment, kind of like Dead Can Dance and Ekova's strangely affective method, but they're mostly sung in English or other foreign languages. The music in itself leaves so much open to the imagination and the vocals of Anneli Drecker never cease to amaze me. She's got a spellbinding voice that fits in with the dreamy, haunting, whimsical sounds that Nils Johansen concocts perfectly. The musicianship is impeccable and every cord strung oozes magic and mystery. I just love how they use such a varied assortment of instruments, especially their trademark bouzouki, mandolin and trumpet. This group has definitely evolved through the years, always good at what they're doing, but 'Birds Of Passage', their second and last release with founding member Geir Jenssen, proves to be my favorite - just behind their masterful 'Shimmering Warm and Bright', of course. I haven't heard their most recent 'Dorothy's Victory' yet but I'm hoping to buy that with Anneli's solo album, 'Tundra', later this year because I'm nutso over Bel Canto and wanna acquire everything brought out by them!

When I first bought this album in 1990ish (released in 1989) I was enthralled with it. It was very original for its time, and I suppose it's pretty original still. But it sounds pretty dated at this point I think. Besides that, it just isn't Bel Canto's best work.

If you are collecting Bel Canto -- and God help you because it's hard to find them and expensive -- then let me recommend you click on the mp3 link and buy the album in mp3 format for only $8.99, which is a fair price for this. I wouldn't recommend paying more than a regular album price for this CD. It's just not that special, unless you want the perfect Bel Canto CD collection, in which case you'll need to pull in some overtime pay this weekend.

If you just want to get some Bel Canto because you've heard they're good, then I HIGHLY recommend their album Shimmering, Warm & Bright. (Apparently Amazon has 3 different versions of this album, so you may want to check each of them out looking for the best deal.) "Shimmering, Warm & Bright" is simply amazing, produced right at the moment between when they were a more underground-sounding band (like Birds of Passage) and their later albums which sound a lot poppier. The sound on that album is a lot richer, more layered and more unique than the music on Birds of Passage.

One more thing: For some reason there is another version of this album on Amazon that says it has "bonus tracks." I've never seen a version of this album that has any more or fewer tracks than you see here. The one I bought way back when had the same number of tracks and I don't even know if it was an import.

Stick to mp3s. You'll probably enjoy this and be glad you didn't spend a fortune on it.

The year was 1990. I had a bit of a "dark" period in my sophomore year in college. Not as in "evil" but more of a "blue" period, such as Van Gogh. I call it a mixture of home sickness and lonelines. So I went out to find some music that had a mood to it and that I could relate to in terms of where I was at the time. I listen to everything from rock to bluegrass to techno to classical. I saw this album mixed among the racks at a music store near campus and tried it out. After just the first 30 seconds of the first 3 songs I dove in and bought it. The track "Continuum" is my favorite. The rest of the songs take you in a wide array of emotions. One makes me think of love. Another, pain and misery. Another song is hopeful, as if looking for treasure. And one even makes me happy and want to dance. Some will haunt you, causing you to be silent, reflective, temperate. This album did not age with me. It still is in the front of my CD holder among my most listened to. It carried me then. It brings memories to me now. It takes me back to times of change. It carries me forward to the change of the future. With it, I dream. I escape into another place, and forget my troubles in a world apart. Begin your own dreams... This album will take you to them...

When I first bought this album in 1990ish I was enthralled with it. It was very original for its time, and I suppose it's pretty original still. But it sounds pretty dated at this point I think. Besides that, it just isn't Bel Canto's best work.

If you are collecting Bel Canto -- and God help you because it's hard to find them and expensive -- then let me recommend you go to this item, Birds of Passage, which looks the same as this product but isn't. Now, if you have to have a CD you can get that other one cheaper. But I would advise you to click on the mp3 link on that page and buy the album in mp3 format for only $8.99, which is a fair price for this.

If you just want to get some Bel Canto because you've heard they're good, then I HIGHLY recommend their album Shimmering, Warm & Bright. (Apparently Amazon has 3 different versions of this album as well, so you may want to check each of them out looking for the best deal.) "Shimmering, Warm & Bright" is simply amazing, produced right at the moment between when they were a more underground-sounding band (like Birds of Passage) and their later albums which sound a lot poppier. The sound on that album is a lot richer, more layered and more unique than the music on Birds of Passage.

One more thing: For some reason this album says it has "bonus tracks." I've never seen a version of this album that has any fewer tracks than you see here. The one I bought way back when had the same number of tracks and I don't even know if it was an import.

The songs are generally like a more passionate early Depeche Mode (A Broken Frame), in that the music is fairly primitive minimalist electro pop. However, Bel Canto has a more "world music" flair, more seriousness, and better lyrics. The vocalist is very good, and the music is just right.

Many years ago I listed to this music at a coffe shop in Monterrey, Mexico. Had no clue who they were. Years passed until I came across this lovely looking collage in the front of the CD box, SURPRISE!!! I immediately recognized CONTINNUM. The etheral languid voice of the vocalist gripped my senses again. Her Spanish accent in the song are so pronounced it makes it a beatiful song to hear over and over again. The rest the CD is jsut as compelling. A work of art? To me? YES.