Customer Reviews

Close to Silence

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Here is a young man with a beautiful counter-tenor voice that will overwhelm you when you hear him. I just can't stop playing this CD. It's not really new age,or ethnic music, but it does sound a little South African. Sometimes it reminds me of "Enigma" or "B Tribe." But the point is its great to relax to, or even use as meditation background. My two favorite tracks are; "Dulciate" and "Sanza."

Now I only wish Thomas Otten would team-up with that other great counter-tenor, "Vyatcheslav Kagan-Paley" (who recently put out a CD title, "Ave Maria", 12 different versions) and then we would have one glorious and beautiful duo of breathtaking vocals. I look forward to Thomas Otten's next release.

This album is a curious surprise. The countertenor voice is an instrument that is rarely written for in this era, and just as rarely heard. To find it at the center fo an album that is thoroughly modern, and possibly even popular is to experience a strange moment of dislocation, as something old is used to evoke something contemporary. Frederic Momont is the composer of a set of pieces that are hard to pin down, and Thomas Otten is the chosen voice.

Working with Otten are classical elements as well as electronic. You will hear instrument samples, piano violins, cello and the true soprano voice of Caroline Mutel. Otten's voice itself has a fragile melancholy sweetness to it that can haunt the listener, blending with Mutel's crystalline sound occasionally to provide a fascinating contrast.

Momont's music is easy going and melodic, very much a vehicle for Otten's work with nary a touch of conflict between the two. The pieces alternate between classical texts such as Ombra Mai Fu and a Petrarch Sonnet to curious sets of syllables as in Close To Silence as well as verses by Momont. All this makes for an album that could be perceived very serious music or as polished background music. Very likeable in any case.

I was overwhelmed by Otten's voice when I listened to the short sample tracks and almost reduced to tears when I played it through the first time. Amazing, just amazing! Otten's blessed with a rich, pure, almost surreal voice and the ability to express profound emotion through it. It's beyond inspirational! I can't express my enthusiasm for his talent and will be waiting anxiously for him to offer us more. His website, listed in the cd cover credits is now on my favorites list, great background and story on this fine preformer and an easy way to track future projects and appearances!

Composer Frederic Momont deserves atleast half the credit here. While the album openly credits Otten, Momont was it's composer, it's keyboardist and arranged and produced this album. His selection of Otten to preform here makes him perhaps the real force behind this audio spiritual experience. I'll be looking for more of him in the future as well.

I have a novice fascination for Opera, yet cannot sit through a traditional Opera cd, there's always a point of boredom that sweeps over me, usually within 20 minutes. This cd more than satisfies my need to be moved by the range of human voice without overdosing me. It's as though Otten and Frederic took snippets of the most moving moments of an opera preformance and found a way to give them all to you in one glorious sitting.

Don't hesitate to own this CD, it's priceless!

I don't remember how I found this one but the album sounds like it's made 100 years from now in the future... Sounds straight out of your idea of what music will sound like when everyone wears matching gray jumpsuits... Just an amazing voice. Strangely soothing and peaceful. If I'm having a hard time going to sleep I'll throw this on and relax and drift off to another land.... It's so beautiful it's almost a religious experience at times... Pick it up!

This is curently my favorite New Age CD, although simply placing it in the New Age category does this magical experience an injustice. I have tried and tried to classify this work by Thomas Otten and the most accurate description I can come up with is "New Age Operatic". I HIGHLY recommend this CD to everyone who enjoys the experience of being hypnotized and swept away by the lush vocals of an incredible performer. I have often just put this Cd on repeat and played it all evening. It is truly an emotional experience.

Thomas Otten has a fantastic counter tenor voice. I know this is a contradiction in terms, but trust me here. This is a beautiful CD. Many of the cuts have just enough supporting music to really fill out the piece and give it a beat! Not bad for classical crossover. If you liked Aria 1 and 2, or if you like Wim Mertens or Toby Twining, you will like this CD as well.

Long time ago I heard a song on Hearts of Space. I tried for years to find out who sang it.I finally heard it again on ... and was able to get the name of the program that played it. It was "Songs Without Words" program #573. I subscribed to ... archive program and now I can hear it all the time.
Thank you,
Rogar

First, the CD cover is deceiving, I passed it up several times, because I am usually drawn by the cover of a New age CD. If the cover catches my eye, I usually buy it...my system works most of the time. What caused me to buy this CD was the Latin names of the songs. Mostly, I prefer instrumentals and was not particularly interested when the first band started. But as it continued to play, I fell in love with the voice...and by the way, I thought it was a woman's voice, and when I realized it was a male, I was even more taken with the CD. I have been in the music field for over forty years and it is a rarety when you hear a voice of this quality and purity. I started listening to New Age music five years ago when I lived in New Mexico....this is definately a New Mexico CD; perfect for a drive on I-40 or I-25 or just about anyother location in the southwest. Heavenly, spiritual, inspirational, romantic are all words that come to mind when I listen "Close To Silence" but they really do not do it justice; you will just have to listen to it and experience the feeling for yourself.

I like this album better and better every time I listen to it - it is almost hypnotic. Otten's incredible voice is what I imagine angels' voices to be like!

Very soothing (stress-relieving), and yet at the same time, it stimulates my imagination and creativity. In other words, it pushes all the right buttons for me. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS for those who likes anything chant-like. And yet, it's so much "newer" than chant....

This recording opens with the synth laden instrumental "Qualitati Umane", then switches smoothly to "Dulciate" a heavy vocal track. The third track "Espiritu" is almost the standard stock new age/world music track you have heard one million times on every one of those inferior recordings, but it is not, it becomes a multi-layered piece with nice backing vocals. "Sanza" is the best track, it flows perfectly with all of the vocals. I must add that most of the tracks on this recording have a present day world/ethnic edge, maybe South African....