Customer Reviews

Clear Horizon: The Best of Basia

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even Basia's weakest songs (of which there aren't many), are in my opinion head and shoulders above 90% of the popular music out today. Which makes this compilation CD worth its weight in gold. The composing, arranging, and recording are nothing short of brilliant, and the musicianship of Peter White and vocal excellence of Basia combine to make some of the finest music you could ever hope to hear. Every song is a gem - every arrangement is well thought out, each background vocal placed perfectly, every rhythm conceived with nothing but the listener in mind. The lyrics are simple yet touching, and Basia sings them from the heart, with the innocent sweetness of her strongest influence, Astrud Gilberto. The new songs on the CD are are worth buying it for, even if you already have most of the songs from her other CD's. My favorites are "Waters of March" and "Go for You"; both songs maintain the standard of excellence I've come to expect from her past music. If you've never heard Basia, this is a great CD to start with - but don't miss her other CD's, because this "best of" would have to be a 5 CD set to truly include all of her best music.

Best of Basia introduced me to this Polish diva with the luscious voice and personality. No, I don't know the lady, never saw her in concert or in a video, don't even know how to pronounce her last name, but her personality shines through every song as clearly as her charming accent. One listens to her and is fairly certain that she would be delightful company. She is completely herself, a genuine article, and that can be said of few recording artists today. Her style is eclectic, but dance rhythms are prevalent, often Brazilian or Latin. She sings best in a lower register and on many songs is multi-tracked in seductive harmonies. "Cruising for Bruising" is a danceable, optimistic and perfect song about second chances in love. It is so nice and bouncy you want to play twice every time you hear it; "Drunk on Love" is another happy dance tune about the serendipity of finding love when you least expect it. "Waters of March" is a quiet samba about the changes in nature by Antonio Carlos Jobim, one of the inventors of popular bossa nova. "Yearning" is a beautiful and contemplative love song. "New Day for You" is probably my favorite, with a strong Latin-dance beat and a fiery hot organ backing. Finally, the live versions of "From Now On" and "Half a Minute" introduce a less packaged Basia but every bit as polished in what must have been an exciting live show. Having listened to samples of the earlier releases from which this is drawn, I think this is probably the best collection of her work. I have described my favorites - you might choose others, but there is not a wrong note in here.

I love Basia and have followed her career for many years. This is a "Greatest Hits" album that really is GREAT - there's not a bad track on it. This CD would make a great introduction to Basia for those who haven't been fortunate enough to experience her tremendous talent yet. After you hear it, you'll probably run out and buy the rest of her albums - she's that good!

There's no one like Basia--mebbe Sade or Lemmieux from the Groove Theory are closely cut, but there's only one Basia. And thank the spirits for that. This CD will be well worth the listener's money--you may wanna buy a couple of them because you'll wear it out--every cut is so fresh and new it's like heaven. I originally thought kinda cheated because one of my faves "Miles Away" wasn't on this Greatest hits CD but, I quickly got over that. This is too good to complain about. She is really one of the best singers out there, per-i-od! I enthusiastically recommend you get this and experience her for yourself. Then, remember I told you so...

I discovered Basia's first album "Time and Tide" in 1987, after hearing her first single "New Day For You" on the radio with my jaw on the floor. Every song was better than ANYTHING I'd ever heard before. This is my absolute favorite artist, and every year I pray for a new album. After Sweetest Illusion came out, Basia promised that she wouldn't take so long to release her next album. Half a decade later, while still waiting, we got a greatest hits album with four new tracks that still top anything else out there. All the old songs are gems, and the new ones, especially Waters of March are uniformly excellent.

I also recommend her Matt Bianco stuff, especially Whose Side Are You On? and the brilliant, newly-released Matt's Mood, both of which have a great deal of Basia material on them.

And if you like Basia, you should definitely check out all of Matt Bianco's albums since they're done in the same style with a lot of the same people. Think of it as methadone for the Basia addict.

Clear Horizon: The Best of Basia is absolutely Great! I love it Thanks for such beautiful music! I came across her music just recently when I was searching for waters of march which is a excellent poem that Basia makes even better in song. The original waters of march was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim and was in portegues, Águas de Março. His version is great but Basia was my favorite of all the different people I sampled of this song and was the main reason I bought Clear Horizon: The Best of Basia but after listening to the album I have found that I Love the whole thing. A couple are not as good as the rest but I am really impressed with many of the songs. I am so happy I got this one the music is so good and poetic. Her singing is wonderful and the music is very jazzy and upbeat I Love It! I have listened to it so much since I got it and it has really lifted my spirits!

Basia is one of the best Bossa Nova singers in the world. She could be compared with the Brazilians DIVAS Gal Costa, Zizi Possi and Elis Regina. Time and Tide brings us to the waves of Rio de Janeiro and the entire Brazil. This collectin album is the best. She shines!! Great work!!!

It simply does not get any better than Basia. I was (and still am) a huge fan of Matt Bianco and was thrilled to find that Basia struck out on her own after Matt Bianco were no more. Her incredible voice, fantastic arrangements (thanks to her Matt Bianco compatriots), and perfect choice of songs make this one of my all time favorite ways to spend a long drive (or anytime I need to calm my spirit). "Third Time Lucky" is pretty much musical perfection. Her sweet, jazzy way with a song should make any listener rush to collect all her CD's. If you adore jazz with a bossa nova beat, do yourself a favor and grab this one.

Excellent collection for those who are just getting into Basia. It will have you hooked. Incredibly consistent delivery, strong vocal performance, lush harmonies and excellent arrangements.

"Clear Horizon" and "Go For You" are ample indications that there is more excellent material to come.

Watch out for the Carlos Jobim tribute "Waters of March", as only Basia can sing it.

If you're going to invest in Basia, take your time and buy just one CD. In my life, I have never come across anyone who recycled so many songs from album to album. Can anyone attribute more than 15 or 20 different songs to this lady? Honestly! NEVERTHELESS, Basia is MUST-HAVE music, and I'm a fan. Just do your due diligence and buy only ONE CD. (This is probably the one, by the way.)