Customer Reviews

Earthsongs

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Before I review this album, I highly recommend that anyone who loves Secret Garden try and find the Norwegian version of this CD if you can. It contains a total of 15 tracks, 3 additional, "Sarabande" which is pretty mediocre, "Canzona" a pretty good ethnic tune, has a lot of Italian/Greek sounding influences, and "Silence Speaks" that is one of the best songs on the album. Why this was cut from international release, I cannot begin to understand.

That aside, I will review the album released here. Out of the 5 studio albums this group has done, this one is clearly the weakest of the 5 from top to bottom. Not saying that it is necessarily bad, but definately not as deep as any of the other releases.

The dark, contemplative mood of all of their previous work is gone, replaced with a more bland and simplistic release. Though there are some signs of depth, paricularly in the first track, Sometimes When It Rains. It is ruined by taking the instrumental song and setting lyrics to it later in the album..."Half a World Away." Once lyrics are placed over a song, the listener really loses the ability to place their own thoughts and experiences into the song, which in turn make it personal. Instead, the song becomes about whatever the lyrics dictate, and unfortunately, a very good instrumental song is lost.

As for the rest of the album, there are some places where the groups previous work appears. "When Darkness Falls," is probably the best example of what made Secret Garden. Unfortunately, what is left of the remaining 9 tracks does not really stand out. "The Reel" which is fair but not exceptional and "Daughters of Erin" that is pretty darn good. "Grace" is also fairly good song, but just seems to be too little too late as far as instrumentals go. "Lotus" and "Fields of Fortune" are pretty "meh" songs. "Silence Speaks" is much better than both, in my opinion.

Finally are the other lyrics songs. "Always There" is not too bad but does not have the powerful effect that You Raise Me Up did on the previous release. Very sadly missing is Karen Matheson on this album. In her stead steps a lesser known and not nearly as good singer for "Sleepsong" which basically suceeds in throwing in every possible cliche for a lullabye into one song. Finally, is "Raise Your Voices" which is a very stirring song done with a full orchestra and choir.

All in all, it is a good album, but it is almost sad that the group's personality from the last 4 albums is almost non-existant in this release. It is good music, but it isn't something that I can say blew me away here, and I am a devoted fan of the group. If you are a fan and have all the other albums, no doubt, go pick it up. If you are thinking about trying something new...Please, do yourself a favor and start at White Stones or Songs from a Secret Garden, both of which are nothing short of incredible.

The US release of Earthsongs by Secret Garden contains only 12 tracks. Three new compositions including the most beautiful piece "Silence Speaks" are for some reason missing... I recommend you to buy the original Norwegian release of "Earthsongs" album with all 15 tracks. I got my copy from cdplanet.no and enjoy it a lot!

What a wonderful and illuminating CD! I have just been enthralled by the enchanting sounds and melodies of this wonderful creation.

The interweaving of disparate elements into a single and erapturing whole has just stabbed deep into the core of my soul. I suggest just sitting back and letting the music wash over you like waves on the beach.

There is just not enough music like this out there. This genre needs more wonderful CDs like this one. I strongly encourage you to buy, listen to, and enjoy this CD.

You won't be sorry you purchased this CD! And I suggest trying more Secret Garden!

Secret Garden is Rolf Lovland, (Norwegian composer, piano and keyboards), and Irish violinist Fionnuala Sherry.

The album, however, offers much more than this duo; it is awash in orchestral strings (real ones), a choir (real one), and as many percussionists, harps, fiddles, keyboards, and whistles as are needed. Songs of the Secret Garden, a chart-topper in Europe, is unabashedly romantic, absolutely gorgeous.

"Sigma," featuring boy soprano Rhonan Sugrue and the Irish National Choir, is very pensive, like dried flowers left, an expected return disappointed. The lyrics begin "I search for the sign that will set my soul free."

Although Celtic music fans will find many moments of bittersweet nostalgia between the violin, pipes, and pennywhistles, the album's closest musical relation might just be the intimate works of Maurice Ravel, particularly his "Pavanne for a Dead Princess."

Romantic themes of true depth, played full out. Secret Garden is not afraid of tenderness nor beauty.

I am a long-time fan of Secret Garden and eagerly awaited the release of this CD. After reading the reviews, though, I was hesitant to spend the money. I just received this CD and I'm sorry I put off buying it for so long. Yes, the music is different from their previous releases, but it shows their growth and willingness to try different things. If you listen to all their albums in order, Earthsongs provides a refreshing change, and you will hear how they have grown over the years. Whether they continue to explore and evolve on the path they have started with Earthsongs, or go back to their previous sound, I will still buy and continue to be a fan. I will always love their music!! (I gave this CD 4 stars because White Stones and Once in a Red Moon are still my favorites)

I was not aware of this release until I did a search for the groups name a couple of weeks ago. I was pleasantly surprised after the success of Once in a Red Moon. I believe that the duo has not missed a step in their plight to bring us a genuine type of music that you cannot find anywhere else. To some it might seem that they have "sold out" but this is just their style. As I listen to Raise Your Voices, I can't help but think of what it might be like when you die and meet your maker in one form or another.

This latest release by Secret Garden doesn't grab you like the others did. However, the music grows on you with each listening. Some of the songs sound like their earlier music, with a bit of a twist, but overall, this is a beautiful album by a most talented duo.

NOTE : This is the U.S. release of Earthsongs. The songs "Silence Speaks", "Sarabande" and "Canzona", all featured on the international release, are not found here. If you can obtain the international version somehow then I suggest that version over this one.

If you're not familiar with Secret Garden that you should know that the Norwegian duo consists of violinist Fionnuala Sherry and keyboardist Rolf Lovland. They play celtic influenced new age music and the celtic influence is once again heavy on this album. However, Earthsongs sees the band move towards a more easy listening direction.

There are plenty of slow relaxing songs here. "Sometimes when it Rains", "Fields of Fortune" and "Silence Speaks" feature soft strings and piano with mournful violin and light guitar. They really help set the mood for the rest of the album. International only "Silence Speaks" is quite possibly the best track on the album so try to obtain the international version if you can. The other two international only tracks "Sarabande" and "Canzona" are nothing special. "Grace" is another nice song that features horns and soft piano. The album closer "Raise your Voice" is an excellent orchestral track with beautiful choral vocals and bombastic instrumentation.

There are some more upbeat tracks as well. "The Reef" brings to mind Japanese composer Yasunori Mitsuda's more celtic works. It features a fast paced violin and excellent drum use. "Daughter of Erin" is another strong track with faster pacing that the rest of the album. Both of these are real toe tappers and excellent to dance to as well.

There are three vocal tracks on here and they're probably the weakest the album has to offer. The male vocal tracks, "Always There" and Half a World Away feature decent enough vocals but they songs themselves feel extremely easy listening. There isn't much emotion behind them and the songs themselves are lead by the vocals so there's not much there instrumental wise. The lyrics on them are a bit drab as well and aren't delivered with much emotion. "Sleepsong" is a decent enough female vocal track but the lyrics are a bit derivative. The female vocals are pretty good although not quite up to par with the vocal releases on their earlier albums.

Again, if you can, obtain the international version. "Silence Speaks" is the one song that the American release really misses out on. If you can't then there is still much to be had here. The music is very relaxing, perfect for a rainy day and although the vocal tracks are weak, the quality of the other songs more than make up for them. The more easy listening style dilutes the songs a bit and I hope they return to their richer earlier sound with the next release. Still, this is a good album with some very strong tracks. If you enjoy this album then be sure to get Secret Garden's earlier works as those are even stronger than this release. 4 stars.

Comparisons will inevitably arise between 'Earthsongs' and Secret Garden's outstanding previous outing 'Once in a Red Moon', their fourth and, arguably, their best and most contemplative piece of work following a spate of pleasant but relatively shallow material - music easily digestible, as it were. 'Earthsongs' bears hints of their earlier compositions mingled with 'Red Moon' sensibilities, but the former ultimately doesn't match up to the duo's 2003 release - an assessment quite easily made simply by gauging how much one record moves you compared to the other.

Every track on 'Once in a Red Moon' is a little gem, each characterised by strong melodies, perfectly complementary arrangements, and, where present, warm vocals and lyrics that are far from being hackneyed or saccharine. Every composition is memorable and moving, and all of them constitute a truly affecting album. 'Earthsongs', however, falls victim to a number of watery tracks where the album shows signs of creative exhaustion. You know during these sections of the album that the group and their collaborators are capable of something significantly better. There is music here that stirs one's mood and emotions, of course, but it doesn't necessarily induce listeners to 'reach for something better within ourselves', as the couple professes in the liner notes, and, certainly, it is nowhere as moving or, indeed, inspiring as 'Once in a Red Moon'.

'Red Moon' sensibilities are still present though - 'Sometimes When It Rains' plays like 'Awakening' set to an orchestra, and 'Fields of Fortune' and 'Lotus' demonstrate quiet adventure in the use of strings, reminiscent of the instrumental innovation found on 'Belonging'. 'Daughters of Erin' reminds one fondly of 'Invitation' (one can detect compositional similarities), and 'The Reel' is a valiant attempt at a 'twenty-first century reel', as Rolf Lovland writes in the liner notes, combining an infectious rhythm and tune with the judicious use of an electric guitar and some brass.

However, none of the upbeat tracks achieves the undercurrent of melancholy on 'Fairytale' - an exquisite piece - and none of the vocal tracks is anywhere near being as touching as 'You Raise Me Up', 'Greenwaves' and 'The Gates of Dawn'. 'Always There' is at best listenable, for Russell Watson's participation cannot salvage lyrics that are shockingly trite, and an arrangement as monotonous as that of a badly written pop love song. 'Half a World Away' fares better as one interpretation and adaptation of 'Sometimes When It Rains'. The closest they get to former glory is 'Sleepsong', which does have a beautiful melody, simple lyrics that are never simplistic, and vocals that are pitch perfect in their balance of tremulous, vulnerable delicacy and melancholy hope, and prevent this little gem of a tune from descending into being another generic, forgettable example of the Lullaby archetype that so many New Age and Celtic artistes try at unsuccessfully.

'Grace' is bound to remind one of 'Silent Wings' on 'Red Moon', since both eventually found their way onto their respective albums by the introduction of a new instrument or arrangement. The jazzy arrangement on 'Silent Wings' simply sounds inspired, a genuine improvement on an otherwise typical Celtic tune that arose from a stroke of genius. The trumpet that got ultimately introduced on 'Grace', though, sounds like a mask for a previously already insubstantial composition. 'Raise Your Voices' isn't the most powerful way to end the album, unilke the way 'Elegie' ended 'Red Moon', although it comes across - for want of a better word - less corny (or laughable - there! A better word) than its other choral counterpart, 'Dawn of a New Century'.

The emphasis on the possibilities presented by individual instruments seems watered down as well, as the duo takes up a distinctly cinematic sound with the Irish Film Orchestra. At times the change in tone seems promising, such as on 'Sometimes When It Rains', 'Fields of Fortune' and 'When Darkness Falls', as the orchestra layers these tracks with warmth and texture. Other times the change is redundant (it certainly doesn't save 'Always There') or simply falls flat ('Grace' and 'Raise Your Voices'). One longs for the intimacy of listening to distinct instrumental sounds mingling together in joyful harmony, instead of being overshadowed by a rather ineffective orchestral sweep.

'Earthsongs' falls short of landing on the 'Red Moon', although it is still an enjoyable outing. By turns moody and sunny, with glimpses of old magic, it does leave one at peace and even slightly moved, while hoping for a more thoughtful and emotionally affecting visit to his Secret Garden the next time around.

"White Stones" is still my favorite album by these folks but this one definitely has some worthy offerings. I love "Reel" and "Daughters of Erin" is beautiful also...a couple of the other vocal offerings are, in my opinion, fairly schmaltzy but wouldn't make me not enjoy the rest of this CD. The last cut on the CD, "Raise Your Voices" literally made me stop in my tracks when I had it playing for the first time and when it ended I backed it up and got out the insert to see what the lyrics were...it is truly beautiful and one I will play again and again. I ended up ordering the Norwegian version so I will be able to have the additional tracks that were cut from the US version. My advice would be to start with "White Stone" or "Dreamcatcher" both of which are really wonderful...but with the exception of a couple of the songs on this one I still think this is a pretty good CD.