Customer Reviews

Cousteau's Dream

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

 

 

The folks at Real Music seem to have a real knack for putting together exceptionally good compilations. "Cousteau's Dream" contains work from recent releases as well as some early ones (1987 Yanni, 1990 Kitaro), and there is a very international flavor to the album as a whole. A generous portion from the sale of each CD will be donated by Real Music's non-profit EarthSea Institute to The Cousteau Society and organizations with similar goals of protecting and preserving the earth and its inhabitants. A noble cause, and a great album to help promote it! Several of the contributions are from Real Music artists (Kevin Kern, Tim Wheater, 2002), but most come from other sources such as Vangelis, Yanni, Kitaro, Kenny G, Richard Burmer, Michael Hoppe, Aria, Kamal, and Frederic Delarue. With such a variety of artistic styles, it is amazing that this album is so seamless. Smooth enough to use as a backdrop, but still interesting enough to listen to actively. Highly recommended!

I hate to cast a shadow on a worthy (fund-raising) release but this was a terribly disappointing purchase. Some of the tracks were rather clumsy (Yanni) or derivative (2002's Enya rip-off) and there didn't seem to be any match between the tracks and the avowed conception for the album. The mix levels varied so much that I had to keep playing with my volume control. Licensed Massage Therapists beware!

Why is Kenny G's "Dying Young" theme on this album? Music-lovers beware.

The 2 short Vangelis tracks (from the soundtrack of 1492:Conquest of Paradise) are harmonically more interesting than the companion tracks. However the track "Eternity" did not seem to fit a Cousteau/Aquatic theme. It would have been more fitting to use some of his music from the album "Oceanic" (heck - buy that album and send a few bucks to the Earthsea Institute) or to publish some of the unreleased music Vangelis created for early Cousteau documentaries.

This is a terrific blend of relaxing music. The pieces played give a definite feel of peace and water. This is one of my best choices I've purchased and play daily while reading cleaning or just relaxing with my feet up. And such a great cause. :-}

A less than stellar collection of tracks... very much lacking cohesion and continuity. I couldn't wait to take it out of my CD player. It is an unfortunate choice of music for such a noteworthy endeavor.

This album is an incredible collection of some of the best artists in New Age. It doesn't necessarily flow from track to track as smoothly as some of Real Music's other compilations, but the tracks on Cousteau's Dream are some of the best by each of the contributing artists. This is an album where the tracks are to be enjoyed on an individual basis, not necessarily one in which you drift off and not notice what it is you're listening to.

There certainly is, however, an overall effect created by this album that I think very accurately captures the mood that was intended. The inclusion of waves gently caressing the shore and the magnificent vocal exchange of the whales conveys the message and feeling that Jacques Cousteau always tried to capture with his films. "Cousteau's Dream" creates a sense of the tranquility that exists beneath the waves of the ocean with the tracks by Vangelis, Yanni, Kamal and Frederic Delarue. But the life and magnificence of all the ocean creatures can be felt through operatic vocals featured on "Un Bel Di" and "Lachrymosa."

If you're buying an album to have strictly as background music that you really don't want to listen to and only sort of want to hear, you may not want this one. But if you want an album that features some of the strongest tracks by some of New Age music's greatest artists, this is the one for you. And with $2.50 from the sale of each album going to The Cousteau Society, you can feel entirely guilt-free for investing in this treasure.

Vangelis, Tim Wheater, Michael Hoppe and Frederic Delarue make the Spirit of this release. Although some pieces are out of place here as Kenny G and Richard Burmer and the sound quality of this release is a disappointment, I like this CD. Real Music really did a great artwork.

I absolutely love this album. I used to play this for my toddler son, whom is now 11 yrs old, and he would softly fall asleep when it played as bedtime music. Even at times requesting it for nap time. lol It's very soothing and divinely brought together. I highly recommend it.

A tribute CD to Costeau with watery graphics on the inserts. So why not at least titles with water themes? Despite great tracks from Vangelis (two selections - is that why his name is assigned as artist on this page?), Kitaro and 2002, most of the remaining tracks are unmemorable.

Any kind of music is special in its own way for people like you or me. This CD is five times more special to me because is like my getaway to a land that is only mine, and it relaxes me a lot and makes me forget many of the things that are happening. I think everyone should listen to it and let themselves enjoy the masters, like Kenny G and Yanni. They are the best there is, and so is this compilation of their music.