Customer Reviews

Ether

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A fantastically mesmerizing follow-up to their previous effort, "The Stone". Former Thompson Twins members Tom Bailey & Alannah Currie have musically matured in a way that can not even be described. From the moody and developed singing of Tom on tracks like "Come Down" and "Tower", to the lush & ethereal lead vocals of Alannah on "Just Like You" and "Hold the Sky", and the lead guest appearance of Teremoana Rapley on "Love Has No Name" (the first single), this CD has something to make even the finickiest of listeners pleased.

It's a shame that "The Stone" (which is also excellent) is out-of print. I'd highly recommend purchasing this CD before it meets the same fate.

When you do... turn off the lights, get some some candles and incense going, put on your headphones, and take one of the best trance-inducing cosmic trips you have ever experienced!

When I heard Babble's dubut album I was very impressed. It seemed before I heard that album that I hadn't heard anything original in a long time. This second album is more of what was great about the initial release. It's kind of like a cross between new age, pop, and eighties new wave. Of course not everyone may agree with that. I always thought that Babble's earlier band-The Thompson Twins created some great music themselves. Everyone song on Ether is great. "The Stone" is also good if you can find it. It's nice to be able to listen to something different. Recommended.

What a stunning album. "Ether" is Babble's second album, and even though it's been a good 5 years since its release, I am still hoping it will not be their last. The music is very ambient and somewhere between new age and new wave... not surprising since Babble is made up of Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie from new wave supergroup the Thompson Twins.

Longtime Thompson Twins fans are probably very familiar with Alannah Currie's harmony vocals recurring throughout their songs. In Babble, and especially here on their second album "Ether," Alannah steps up to take the lead vocals on several beautiful ballads. "Just Like You" and "Hold The Sky" are the jewels in this collection. Her voice is delicate and moody, and she brings out the soft side of these synthesized songs very effectively. Likewise, the production is lush and lilting. These songs are dreamy.

Tom Bailey sounds great too, especially on "The Sun." His voice was always distinctive, with a soulful ache that has grown more mature and pronounced here. "Come Down" could almost be a radio single, except that it appears to have 2 songs happening at once: an Eastern intro that reappears after each chorus, and a very catchy, sweeping pop/rock arrangement reminiscent of latter-day Thompson Twins recordings, as well as Babble's "Take Me Away" from their first album "The Stone."

"Ether" is that perfect CD for ethereal, nighttime listening.

Amazing music, every track, from beginning to end. If you're not up on your Babble Lore, you may not know that they did the music for 3 of the songs on Traci Lords, 1000 Fires album. (Juno Reactor & Mike Edwards also appear on that album) If you like Babble, find Traci's CD - it will be well worth the search. I've got some Babble re-mix albums as well, and those too, are incredible - though very hard to find. Bablyon!

I've always been a TT fan but Babble was a step beyond any TT album. The layers of synth, slowing building into soaring melodies is like nothing else out there. I have listened to this CD dozens of times and I am moved to chills each time. It's definately one of my top favorite pieces of music. I recommend this highly and is best enjoyed on headphones. It's a musical journey filled with haunting and uplifting balads, tribal beats and intricate groves. AMAZING! A gift to your ears and your soul.

This album (and it's shockingly out of print predecessor "The Stone") is a brilliant, melodic, groove filled gem. How it has remained in obscurity is unknown to me. I first heard of Babble while in Antigua, Gautemala, a town awash in travelers from all over the world. The rhythmic flow of the music helped accentuate the beauty and mystery of volcanoes sillouetted against a moonlit sky. Buy it and dig it.

ether is a trip to the greatest place that you can imagine. i can lay and listen to this and feel the emotion ride through me. sun is the perfect song. grasping chorus, moving music, and a great beat. my favorite on the disc is probably hold the sky. what a song. these guys should be way more popular than they are. its a shame that they had to deal with major label politics and recieve such poor promotion. if you're looking for a musical journey that you never want to end, pick up ether. what a great cd!

It's no wonder BABBLE receives such glowing reviews and comments. These are old pros in the music business. The new listeners may not be aware that BABBLE is none other Tom & Alana from the groung-breaking 80's new wave/synth pop band the THOMPSON TWINS. And they continue to produce chill-inducing soundscapes and aural journeys. They were on the "cutting-edge" in the 80's, and they still are. One of my favorite bands, to say the least!

This Cd is almost as good as the Stone. How could a band this good stop? I wish they were reading these comments. The best of Massive Attack, Peter Gabriel, and Pink Floyd all combined in a New Music style. Madonna's new album seems to be influenced by there sound quality. Buy it!

Released in 1996, Ether is Babble's second full-length album. Ten tracks are furnished. Babble's music sounds to me like a combination of New Age and synth-pop. Babble is made up of Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie (ex-Thompson Twins). Both of them provide vocals. I find all of the pieces to be likeable. The album's sound quality is nice, also. I like Bailey's soaring vocals on "Sun." "Into Ether" is interesting, too. The CD insert includes several black-and-white photos. The disc is just over 50 minutes. Ether is recommendable.