Customer Reviews

Era

5 star:		(57)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Nothing can describe the feeling when you FINALLY find out the name of this album, and that piece of music that has been haunting you for MONTHS finally has a name.

Australian readers won't be familiar with this album, but if they were to hear it, it would be instantly recognisable. Why? Because they've heard "Ameno (Remix)" time and time again in the Optus "The Power of Yes" advertising campaign on television. If you're ever wondered what that bit of music was, then you really should buy this CD. I myself searched for months for what this was - and even went to the stage of calling the company that ran the advertisements to find out.

There's nothing I can do to describe this album, other than to mention what I do with it. It's one of my favourite albums to put on, and then sit down, close my eyes and be truly lost in the ambient and yet strangely epic sound. Listening to this album, choruses well up around you as you listen, and the sound is so full and rounded that you almost feel trapped in such a beautiful piece of art.

I can't recommend this CD highly enough. If you like albums such as Deep Forest or especially Enigma with their "epic" quality, then give this a try. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

"Ameno (Remix)" starts out with no music at all - just a male choir singing in latin. Before long though, female voices join in with the males to continue the album's flow of gradually climbing to a more powerful crescendo ... A solo female vocalist comes in next for a brief moment in the spotlight, and then a subtle beat begins to chime in, only to explode with an infectious Enigma-like dance beat. (Now if that doesn't draw you in, I don't know what will). . .

The initial sound of Era is something that's very akin to Pilgrimage and Lesiem: Gregorian-type choral singing with the occassional electric guitar and english male/female rock vocal, which is the factor that evidently draws in comparisons to Enigma.

I admit, Era does seem to be a bit over-hyped with boundless 5-star reviews, but as I sit here listening to this CD, pondering all of its possible faults, I come up empty-handed. Songs like "Mother" and "Enae Volare Mezzo" make this a very enjoyable album, and I highly recommend it to fans of classical-crossover, new age, and maybe even world music.

I heard the "Ameno" song when I was out one evening. I asked someone what it was from, and they said "Era". I tracked down the CD, and bought it. I found other good songs on the CD also. All I can say is that it is great (I preferred the Mother and Mother remixes least). I hope this form of music catches on. For a lack of a better name, I would call the form "Gregorian Techno" which mixes Gregorian Chanting and Latin (the language in the songs is great, but not real Latin), with techno.

Wow. What a mix - the tracks are actually quite different, stylistically. Some have Queen-like guitar solo's, some have a techno beat, some have orchestral arrangements, and some have a Celtish feel (and some, a combination of these). All have haunting Gregorian-style vocals (which are actually sung in a made-up language, like a cross between Latin and Spanish). The music is emotional, powerful and refreshing. If I were only allowed one CD in my collection, this would be it.

For the MMA fans of Pride who wish to listen to the entrance muisc of the Heavyweight Pride FC champion this is the CD for you.

It has the song "Enae Volare Mezzo" which is Fedor's and his brothers entrance song.

I was ordering music CD's through Amazon when I came across Era, the cover and song titles intrigued me and I was compelled to buy the CD. After listening to the whole CD, from start to finish, I am now and most happily a Era fan.
I can easily describe this music as a mix of dark ambient meets electronica. Eric Levi has charted and blended the two styles of music and created a very well, deep and thought provoking compilation. The gregorian Latin chants of Ameno, Avemano and Impera are simply seductive.
My favourites were the Ameno Remix and Enae Volare Mezzo, I simply and gladly closed my eyes and relaxed and the female vocalists are supurb.
Finally, anyone wanting something totally different and wonderful, don't go past Era.

This CD is simply amazing ! If you hear it once, you'll travel to a spiritual and deep dimension ! You will be filled by a dense energy that can make us happy and, at the same time, a little bit sad about our fragile existence ! Try on !

I give this album 5 stars for the atmosphere that the music on it creates. I am aware of some drawbacks of the production here, but generally I prefer this CD to Era's next outing "Vol.2".

While listening to this album I get the feeling I am walking through a dark and cold and wet dungeon, perhaps of a monastery. I hear the monks chanting somewhere above me, and the weeping guitar simply leads my way through this labyrinthine space.

Love the tracks "Era", "Avemano" and "Mirror", where the beat makes me think of closing of some heavy metal doors, or knocking at the forbidden doors, Enigma once contrived on their first album... And the melancholic ambient intro to "Mother" with a lovely female voice simply blows me away. There are also other great tunes, some of them aren't to be found on some releases like the ambient "After Time", which doesn't include any choir, but has a crunchy guitar solos all through it with Florence Dedam's delicate voice (she also performed on "Mother") between the sharp interludes.

Oh I forgot about, perhaps, the greatest track here, the oniric "Impera". The beat, the long guitar solo and the sad chanting of the choir make this album worth the price.

Simply delirious and enchanting treat for the ears. Highly recommended. Listen attentively, make yourself one with this music...

Music that runs the gauntlet of the emotions. If you enjoy Pure Moods or Enya you will love this album. This was the first album I wanted to replace after loosing all of my cd's to Hurricane Katrina. It, the cd, leaves that strong of an impression.

This CD is one of the most amazing CDs i heard. If you like Enigma or Enya then go ahead buy it without hisitating, you'll be more than pleased. This CD will take you to a whole new world.