Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
She's still re-writing the rules., October 24, 2001
My favourite Sandra album will always be Paintings in Yellow, but this one comes in as a close second. Probably cause it's SO different. After the Enigma by-the-numbers Close to Seven, it was nice to see her go way out into left field on this one. Her re-make of "Nights in White Satin" strikes me as the type of thing that would make Justin Hayward proud (he's even writing techno these days: English Sunset anyone?). "Won't Run Away" is my fave track on here. It's miles ahead of the butchured remix which appears on the "My Favourites" compilation. And as for "Will You Whisper," I think it's cool that she's exploring the lower registers. I consider it a rather gutsy number. I especially love "First Lullaby." Mike later did a more upbeat version on Transatlantic Air Waves, but the original is still the best. "Son of a Time Machine" has an interesting 50s surf guitar thing that appears from time to time, and "Invisible Shelter" is just classic Sandra. "Secret Land" lives!!!! Overall, one of the most gutsy releases from an artist who's made a career out of being musically daring.
|
|
|
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Fading Interest...for some tracks..., January 17, 2001
I don't know where to begin with this review.This is a 1995 import title from German/French pop-star beauty Sandra Cretu. I'll begin by saying that I have owned this import for 3 years now (it was very difficult to obtain).This was the album that eluded some long time Sandra fans because of its incoherence with regards to musical styles.It was also a major disappointment in Europe where she was originally dubbed as the "European Madonna" due to large part for her vocal style and sensuality. However,make no mistake,Sandra is very beautiful and captivates her audience and listeners on her unique and seductive breathy voice (she can sound like a mousy sex-kitten in one track--demure, and then a passionate French seductress in another).Her spoken voice has served her and us well when doing vocals for the group Enigma.She creates an atmosphere like no other female pop artist without having to sound like Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston. On the upside,the intro-instrumental track Fading Shades (Part 1) starts with a surreal and relaxing synthesizer sound reminiscent of Enigma and then it morphs into an awesome and smooth re-make of the Moody Blues classic Nights in White Satin (one of the BEST I've heard so far sung from a woman's point of view). Sandra's version is more up-tempo with guitars and drums akin to the Enigma 2 album.The next track is Son Of A Time Machine with it's sophisticated soft alternative sound about a woman who discovers love with a time traveller. After the first three excellent and captivating tracks the album begins to fall apart with it's nose dive into generic dance music from the 80's that brings to mind Kylie Minogue or Debbie Gibson.It goes from Enigmatic mature sophistication to a sophomoric sub-level.One slow ballad titled Will You Whisper painfully shows Sandra's vocal limitations (it may have been partially due to the fact she was pregnant). The only other semi-worthy tracks are You Are So Beautiful (no,not the Kenny Rogers song), the techno-like Invisible Shelter, I Need Love '95 (taken from her '92 Close to Seven c.d. and re-worked to a slower beat with more guitars). First Lullabye is a beautiful yet somewhat haunting song which was written for Sandra's yet unborn twins in '95. After Lullabye the album re-prises back into the beginning title track instrumental a la Enigma style. Fading Shades is one of those rare c.d.s that you will want to program certain tracks due to the lack of stronger material as previously found on her other albums. Fading Shades is strictly for Sandra fans who want to complete their collection;Afterall, all of her c.d.s are imports and very difficult to find in any local cd shop !Also, the photography and artwork are incredible and ethereal with it's pastel-like "faded shades". The photos depict a breathtakingly beautiful married and pregnant Sandra.
|
|
|
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Incredibly beautiful music, March 4, 2004
Sandra has done it once again, releasing very beautiful music! It is a nice change from her earlier works from the 80's, which had mainly fast catchy dance beats and that 80's pop sound. Half the songs on Fading Shades are very soothing and mesmerizing for the soul. The other half are uptempo dance songs which unfortunately aren't that good.The standout songs on this album are: First Lullaby
Nights in White Satin
I Need Love '95
Will You Whisper The background beats on these particular songs sound haunting yet dreamy. The beats have been slowed down a bit but still possess that upbeat sound. There is this dreamy atmospheric feel to all the songs. The music has that Enigma touch and feel to it as alot of her 90's work veered into that general direction. There is nothing in the U.S. that sounds like or can be compared to this wonderful music that Sandra has put out. It is definitely unique sounding! The song "First Lullaby" is truly beauty beyond words. To me, it's the greatest song of her entire career. Overall, the music is very romantic and uplifting for the mind and spirit.
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Sandra Ann Lauer 
