Echoes of Eden

Govinda | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 29, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B000092Q8P
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #99,180 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Hypnotic

2. One Body

3. Matter

4. From My Cocoon

5. Ghost In The Garden

6. Forbidden Love (Remixed)

7. Tu M'aimes (Remixed)

8. Static Apparition

9. Like I Do

10. Bells In The Back

11. Organic Beauty (Remixed)

12. So Much To Give

13. Raga

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Different... VERY different..., February 18, 2004

By 

Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Echoes of Eden (Audio CD)

It pains me to give one of my absolute favorite groups an average rating such as this but even now I think I'm being generous. I simply feel that 'Echoes of Eden' sounds rushed and uninspired. Unlike the innovative and erotic works of 'Entwined & Entranced', 'Oh Earthly Gods' and even 'Erotic Rhythms From Earth' where you begin to hear the changes happening, 'Echoes Of Eden' seems bland in comparison and can even be boring because of repetitive rhythms. Shane O'Madden is a musical genius and I'll always respect whatever he does but since I had to buy two copies due to missing tracks on the independent release back in 2002, which makes this as aggravating as it is a let down, I'm very disappointed in his latest effort.

I'm unclear on whether Shane left of his own accord or if Earthtone dropped him because he wanted to delve further into the electronic scene but, if that's the case, than I'm begging Govinda to reclaim their older, familiar style or to step back into the shadows for a while to practice on honing your skills. I'm guessing since they signed their name over to Water Music the "big guys" hurried him in creating new material, which is often the case when an artist switches record labels. But, then again, I do, however, appreciate the dreamy vocals of Chrysta Bell (Shane's wife) and Jennifer Folker whom I was thrilled to see on here because I loved her contribution to Banco de Gaia's "Obsidian". She only sings on "So Much To Give" while Chrysta appears on "From My Cocoon", "Like I Do" and the remix of "Tu M'Aimes" but they're undeniably the best songs featured, making this otherwise insipid album actually worth buying if your a die-hard fan like me. I do like the teasing hint of what we're used to hearing from Govinda on the haunting "Raga" and the washy wah guitars on "Hypnotic" but missing here is Shane's signature violin playing, which is replaced with funky dance beats, deep bass, Eastern dubs and Indian vocalizations. I admit, he finds the groove and is able to make it work sometimes but he mostly achieves a watered-down Karsh Kale rip-off. And trust me, it saddens me to do anything but praise this man's amazing talents. I suppose he's just lost in finding a new niche for himself. On the up side, this isn't a complete disaster... It could have been a lot worse.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not like the other Govinda albums!!!, April 29, 2003

By 

MobileGroupie (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Echoes of Eden (Audio CD)

I bought this album last year from Govinda's indie label for 2 reasons:
1. I like Govinda's first 3 albums
2. I love Jennifer Folker's voice (i go weekly to get my "fix")
WOW!!! Was i surprised when i hear this one!!! It was not what i had expected at all!!! I think that Shane (Govinda) either lost his violin or traded it in for a mixer and tables! This CD continues in the vein towards a more trim, electronic, trip hop, remixed sound and much further away from the layered, fluid & organic sounds of his first 2 albums. The songs on "Echos of Eden" have many less layers of the rich sounds and samples that i love on his first 2 CDs :( Also, the length of this CD is drastically shorter than his previous CDs.
I was not impressed at all with this CD. I am completely biased when i say this because i am a devoted Dahlia fan... but Jennifer Folker's vocals were much appreciated and definintely a bright spot in the album on track 10: "so much to give". I wish she had been given more lyrics to sing, less of a 70's funk, and more of the "early Govinda" sound, 'cause this girl can sing and she has an amazing vocal range!! Another bright spot is the didgeridoo in track 6: "static aparition" and the vocals of Chrysta Bell are pleasant in track 7: "like i do". The final cut, "raga" is a taunting foul ~ breifly and wispily hinting at the Govinda sounds i miss from the first 2 albums.
SO, if you are lookin' for trip hop and beats & something more towards a club sound, this is the album for you. If you are expecting something similar to his other albums ~ richly organic and fluid violin melodies ~ you will be sorely dissapointed. I would buy this album used, if you can find it, just to have more Jennifer Folker vocals.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars it's all good :-), June 11, 2004

By 

"gnatinthewind" (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Echoes of Eden (Audio CD)

I first heard of Govinda on a Six Degees sampler entiled Asian Travels 2 - the song titled "Slow Devotion". I thought "this track is the bomb! ( which it is ); who's Govinda?"
Soon thereafter, I ordered Echoes of Eden as was not disappointed. Every song is a good one, and I have since bought Govinda's three previous CDs as well - they're all good. My favorite thing to do is put them all in my CD player and hit the shuffle button, blending all four CDs together, in a random order. Yes, there are slight differences among Govinda's four CDs, but it's all Shane O'Malley, so it's all good.
I do notice there is less of his violin playing on Echoes of
Eden, and that is missed somewhat, but it's still him playing most of the other instruments as well. There does seem to be a little more violin in the earlier three CDs, a little more DJ/turntable flavor in the last two ( Govinda's third CD, which blends together all these elements, might be the best one of the four: "Erotic Mystics" ), but they are all very good.
But in general, it's Govinda - hip hop-trip hop beats with a wonderful world/middle eastern flavor that is both unique and never boring. In many of the songs, you'll find lovely vocals, and he rocks the sub woofer with the deep bass lines.
So, in short, I'd recommend buying them all (Echoes of Eden, Erotic Mystics, Entwined & Entranced, and O Earthly Gods ), put them in the CD changer, push the shuffle button, and enjoy :-)