Conjure One [Limited Edition]

Conjure One | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B00006I0BZ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #233,296 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

When it comes to popular music, a proven formula is a safer bet than chancing something new. Apparently, such is the wisdom behind Conjure One, the new project spearheaded by Delerium and Front Line Assembly architect Rhys Fulber. As he did with Delerium, Fulber pairs guest vocalists of the mostly ethereal variety with gauzy ambient-tribal pop full of Eastern shadings and just enough chanting to maintain the spooky quotient. And when Fulber nails a vibe--as he does twice with singer Poe on the dreamy, goose-fleshy "Center of the Sun" and the downright chilling "Make a Wish," and with Tea Party belter Jeff Martin on the widescreen "Premonition"--he nails it, creating a haunted landscape best described as New Age-worldbeat. There are some clunkers here, too. Sinead O'Connor is thwarted by the leaden clichés littering "Tears from the Moon," and Israeli vocalist Chemda shamelessly borrows from the late, great Ofra Haza to negligible effect. But anyone who dug the Delerium project--or kindred spirits such as Dead Can Dance--will declare Conjure One a success. --Kim Hughes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Overall strong album--boasts some great tracks, September 11, 2004

By 

Furiae (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Conjure One (Audio CD)

I jumped the Delerium bandwagon when 'Silence' was a hit and I loved "Canto Alla Vita" on Josh Groban's debut album, which was produced and arrange by Rhys Fulber. I just loved this style of music that could fuse romance with electronic musical stylings. While it falls short of excellent, it did live up to my expectations.

What makes this album different (perhaps even better) for me, however, is one woman: Poe. She contributes two songs on that are both very solid tracks. Her lyrics, as usual, are tight, eloquent, and subtle. She's proven again that she is a fantastic lyricist, and her vocals are velvety and rhythmic. It really is no wonder her fans call her the 'mistress of groove.' Her song "Center of the Sun" really is the highlight of this album. She never oversings and her voice complements both her songs very well.

Another standout song was "Sleep." It was very ambient and created a very strong mood. The song "Manic Star" was nice, as well--a very catchy tune! Both these songs, along with Poe's, were well produced and boast strong melodies (they key, I've found, with a good Rhys Fulber song).

Chemda's vocals were actually very good. Her Israeli-style vocalizations on "Redemption" were enjoyable. I don't know what basis the official reviewer has of saying her singing is a rip-off of the late Ofra Haza (who was a GREAT singer, don't get me wrong). When two people both hail from similar regions (in this case, the Middle East) you're bound to hear similarities somewhere along the line. Chemda's vocals were intense, soulful, and compatible with Rhys' style, not to mention lend an exotic feel to the album.

The song I am a little disappointed with is Sinead's "Tears from the Moon." In this case I do agree with the official review. The lyrics do fall on cliches here and there, and the song is a bit formulatic. It's doesn't have the sweetness of Sleep or Manic Star, and it definitely doesn't have the smooth groove of Poe's contributions. I think the problem was it is a little too pop and not ambiant enough.

Overall, however, this CD does boast strong tracks. If you enjoyed songs such as Silence, Euphoria, Fallen Icons, Daylight, After All, and Truly from Delerium's past albums, you should enjoy Rhys Fulber's solo venture.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A nice compelling CD...., September 25, 2004

By 

Petar Vodogaz "Commissioner" (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Conjure One (Audio CD)

Being a fan of Delerium, I purchased this album on the off-chance that it sounded similar to the early Delerium sounds. It did not. What this CD sounded more like was the Semantic Spaces and Poem of the later Delerium years.

The female vocals were great and sensually catchy, some great tracks and a nice easy flowing listening tune. Although I don't see Conjure One getting to Delerium's fame, I do see it continuing.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning, September 7, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Conjure One (Audio CD)

I picked this CD up strictly because of Poe's two vocal turns, and I was pleasently surprised to discover after I plunked the CD in my player and recognized the musical style that I'd gotten the solo work of Rhys Fulber of Delerium along with my favorate female vocalist. Overall, I think the CD's quite as strong, if not a touch stronger, than any of the Delerium CD's...though if you've got it set in your head that once an artist or a band hits a style you particularly like they should stop exploring and evolving and play *just that in that exact style forever*, you might not like it--Fulber moves in some different directions with this one.

I'm admittedly biased to Poe's two tracks, Center of the Sun (best. song. ever. Yes, I'm biased and I DON'T CARE!) and Make a Wish (Second best song ever, still biased). I didn't care for Sioned O'Conner's Tears From the Moon--The lyrics are sappy for my tastes, and I don't tend to like Sioned O'Conner when she's left to her own devices. While I was hopeful perhaps this track might turn out like her turn with AfroCelt Sound System (Release, a good song), I was disapointed--still, while it's not gold, it's not a bad tune, and quite a few people I've played this CD for liked Tears from the Moon the best. Manic Star also had to grow on me--I didn't like it at all the first few times I heard it, though I like it quite a bit now.

For the rest, I found the middle eastern flair in many tracts to be a delight, being particularly fond of Asia Massive/Underground. Tidal Pool and Pandora stick out among the tracts without vocals. The CD as a whole is a textural wonder, one of the very few of the multitude of CD's in my collection I can *feel* with a sense of touch as well as *hear* with my ears.

Overall, a worthy CD.