Dralion [Soundtrack]

Cirque du Soleil (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 12, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Cirque Du Soleil
• ASIN: B0009U5G00
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #123,881 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not your typical Cirque, May 27, 2010

By 

Amanda (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dralion (Audio CD)

The music of Dralion is different from many other, older Cirque du Soleil soundtracks out there. It marks the first Cirque score composed by Violaine Corradi, who would later go on to compose the Varekai score, and a transition into more complex, less classical new age music filled with tribal sounds and strong world music influences. Dralion also marks one of the first uses of a countertenor in Cirque music, which would prove popular for other shows. A countertenor, sung on this CD by Erik Carol, is a male who sings soprano (which is obviously very difficult to do), thus lending a very smooth, high-pitched and unique sound. Alongside Carol is the highly talented and versatile Agnes Sohier, who drifts between notes effortlessly.

From the drum-heavy, Middle Eastern-inspired "Stella Errans" to the tribal "Aborigines Jam" it's obvious that world music has a strong presence in every Dralion song. Heavy on drums, backing vocals and ethnic instruments, at times the music can feel a little overdone and overpowering, such as with the overly-intense "Bamboo" and "Hinko." "Ballare" allows for one of the few quieter moments in the show and really allows for Erik Carol to showcase his talent and, honestly, at first the countertenor sound bothered me, but this song helped me appreciate the sound more. The highlights for me are "Ravendi" and "Kamande." "Ravendi" allows for Erik and Agnes to show off their vocal talents and express the beauty that comes from combining their voices. "Kamande" was always a favorite of mine in Dralion, due to its upbeat feel and sense of satisfaction at the end.

My only real beef with Dralion is that isn't just not as memorable for me as some of the other Cirque CDs. Sure, it takes a different path from many of the others, but it was just too different for me. I found it difficult to listen to the CD as often as the others, sometimes due to the overpowering nature of the songs and other times due to the fact that the "world" aspect just didn't mesh with me as well. While perfect for the show, it can be a little difficult to appreciate the Dralion music out of context.