Furious Angels [Enhanced, Limited Edition]

Rob Dougan | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 3, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Enhanced, Limited Edition
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B00009KTXN
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #62,442 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Prelude

2. Furious Angels

3. Will You Follow Me?

4. Left Me For Dead

5. I'm Not Driving Any More

6. Clubbed To Death

7. There's Only Me

8. Instrumental

9. Nothing at All

10. Born Yesterday

See all 15 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Will You Follow Me? [Instrumental]

2. Furious Angels [Instrumental]

3. Left Me for Dead [Instrumental]

4. I'm Not Driving Anymore [Instrumental]

5. There's Only Me [Instrumental]

6. Instrumental [Instrumental]

7. Nothing at All [Instrumental]

8. Born Yesterday [Instrumental]

9. Speed Me Towards Death [Instrumental]

10. One and the Same [Instrumental New mix][Instrumental]

Editorial Reviews

Rob Dougan's 'Furious Angels' is one of the most vital records to come out in 2003, a bridge between the past & the future, as heavily orchestrated pop & soundtrack-style music comes in contact with electronica. At the center of it is Rob Dougan himself, his deeply rich, dark, & slightly gruff voice adding the element of suspense to his tension building, groove-laden, beautifully composed concoctions. Limited edition includes a bonus disc with 13 tracks, 'Clubbed to Death 2', 'Will You Follow Me?' (Instrumental), 'Furious Angels' (Instrumental), 'Left Me for Dead' (Instrumental), 'I'm Not Driving Anymore' (Instrumental), 'There's Only Me' (Instrumental), 'Instrumental' (Instrumental), 'Nothing at All' (Instrumental), 'Born Yesterday' (Instrumental), 'Speed Me Towards Death' (Instrumental), 'One & the Same' (Instrumental), 'Clubbed to Death' (dub), & 'Furious Angels' (dub). Limited edition

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Furious Angels for Dougan, Muses for the rest of us, November 22, 2003

By 

Harvey (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Furious Angels (Audio CD)

I always rate good music on the chill factor - if I can feel goosebumps running up and down my spine, then I know it's wonderful music. I first heard, of course, "Clubbed to Death" in the first Matrix movie and wondered who the artist was. I eventually found my way to "Furious Angels" through searches for other music. I listened to the title track and fell in love. The tingly goosebumps were there for that song, as well as "Left me for Dead". I have a reputation for liking music that blends classical with techno (see Operatica if you like this), and this is absolutely fabulous. I have to admit, though, unlike most of the reviewers here, I like Dougan's voice. It does take a while to get used to it, but without it, the songs just seem that less interesting. However, do get the version of the CD with both the vocals and then the instrumental version in case you don't agree. I look forward to more of Dougan's dark orchestral pieces that have the same type of emotion that this CD has.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The final emergance of Classikan music, July 11, 2003

By 

Za'chary Westbrook "Jericho" (Salem, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Furious Angels (Audio CD)

Honestly, read the reviews later, BUY THIS CD NOW!

It began with William Orbit. When he remixed Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings and it became a club classic, the wheels were set in motion for the inception of a new musical genre which fuses classical and modern sounds into a seemless symphony, dubbed 'Classikan'. With the success of 'Adagio for strings', some music producer had the idea to do that exact sort of thing as the gimick for a new band. In that spirit he gathered four of the most promising, and attractive, string performers from Europe's most prestigious music schools and created Bond. With the aptly titled first album 'Born', Bond exploded onto the international music scene like every other novelty band before them, with one major differance: they stuck around. But still, Bond has been little more than a novelty act with a lot of sex appeal for the last few years. Until now.
Rob Dougan's 'Furious Angels' is the work that finally solidifies the novelty into a legitimate genre. Bond, for all its genius, was still a revamping of classical music, the same is true for other similar artists, Sarah Brightman, Emma Shapplin, etc. Dougan has managed to take a full orchestra with original compositions and blend it perfectly with dark techno sounds. The result is a sound that is truly remarkable.

Disc 1
1. "Prelude', it's a chorus that sings a few bars. It's a basic introduction piece.
2. 'Furious Angels', "If you go, furious angels will bring you back to me". It's creepy like Sting's 'Every move you make' and savage with the desperation of a lover trying to hold onto every bit of their departing counter-part.
3. 'Will you follow me?', the instrumental anthem of some as yet unknown hero as he surveys the ashes of his first enemy fallen.
4. 'Left me for dead', listening to this song is like seeing the final scene of a modern, working-class 'Count of Monte Christo'.
5. 'I'm not driving anymore', partially inspired by 'Scent of a woman', is the most eloquent 'It's not you, it's me' break-up speech in the history of mankind.
6. 'Clubbed to death (Kurayamino Variation)' is not a remix, it is a variation. The strings that seduced us in the original now take the center stage as the techno-industrial sounds get leveled back.
7. 'There's only me', the strings are adagio, but the beats make your head bounce in a brilliant audio tension.
8. 'Instrumental', imagine watching the sun set behind a bank of clouds that stretches on forever, splaying out in deep lavendars, subtle golds, and ocean blues. That's what it feels like to listen to this song.
9. 'Nothing at all', my favorite track on the CD is ambient, mello, and a truly honest love song.
10. 'Born Yesterday', has a darkness and an intensity that would make Wagner throw up his habnds and say 'I'm done!' Lyrically, it's a very personnal account that most anyone can relate to.
11. 'Speed me towards death' has a very simple musical set-up to it, but the lyrics are heavy with an emotion universal to everyone who's graduated High School.
12. 'Drinking Song', is just that, a drinking song. Taking a lot of musical inspiration from late 19th century parlor music, it's the most down-to-Earth song on the album.
13. 'Pause' 31 seconds of silence
14. 'One and the same', brighter in tone than the rest of the album, it provides a nice accent to the darkness.
15. 'Clubbed to Death 2', same vibe, but remains disatinctive. If only movie sequels could be like this.

Disc 2 has instrumental versions plus an extended version of 'Will you follow me?' This will be a great saving grace to people who don't like Dougan's gravely vocals. Also, put on the second disc and watch Fritz Lang's 'Metropolis' at the same time, it's freaky.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In a word? Intoxicating...., October 1, 2004

By 

James Zielke "J Fydes" (Texas) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Furious Angels (Audio CD)

Rob Dougan starts the album with voices. Setting the mood for the entire album with a smooth yet eerie choir solo is "Prelude".

One note of the cello. He must hold that one note at the begining of the title track "Furios Angels" for 30 seconds. Slowly bringing in vocals the track soon builds up with violins and snare work until the beat drops with added falcetto vocals. The title track is simply amazing.

The next track "Will You Follow Me" is a symphonic piece without Rob's smoldering vocals, yet it does not lose his touch. An adventure of a piece that holds no places to lose the listener.

"Left Me for Dead" holds all the bitterness of a broken and torn relationship. Despise fills Rob's voice where, at some points in the song, he sounds to be singing through clenched teeth. Soothing strings in a minor chord fill swing in and out of Rob's vocals in a way Ive never heard before. A jazzy beat complemented by well timed cymbal work fills the backround and holds the overall mood of the song at a steady despise filled level.

"Im not Driving Anymore" is one of my favorite songs on the album. Starting with low cellos and some crafty digital effects he sets a somber mood for the duration of the song. Rob's usual rough vocals grab the attention of the listener just in time to hear the simple melody of strings pour out over the song. Driving strings take control of the song at times only for Rob to come back singing with more passion than before.

"Clubbed to Death" is the easily recognizable song from "The Matrix." A very simple yet driving strings melody takes half of the song while the other half is filled with notes running up and down the piano soothing the listeners ear.

"There's Only Me" starts of with a vinyl scratch and a yell. Calm strings move in only to be contrasted by Rob singing in a minor chord. Simple guitar mixes in to create a very somber and mournful mood.

Rob's "Insrumental" is a creative piece done entirly with strings. It is almost five minutes long yet never gets old or boring.

"Nothing at All" has a simple beat with bass and acoustic guitar providing the melody. It is a very nice change to ease the listener's ear in the middle of an album full of driving strings.

"Born Yesterday" is a slow steady song with string and accented with well timed snare work. Throughout the song, strings and piano build up until you have a driving violin feeding the listener. It then starts anew with a cello, drums, and vocals and builds itself up into the same driving violin meoldy. Falcetto vocals add a very nice touch to an already good song.

"Speed Me Towards Death" starts with fast paced strings that pours out energy over the contrasting down-tempo beat. Robs vocals flare throughout the song and seem to excite the strings. An electric guitar riff seems to mingle perfectly with everything adding to the urgent feel of the track. Horns are added in the second half of the song and keep the melody fresh.

"Drinking Song" is a ballad with Rob's gritty vioce over a piano with a string ensemble in the backround. Even with Rob's vocals, a feeling of care fills. A well timed "Pause" lets the listener catch up with themselves before the next song.

"One and the Same" pours out a feeling of love to inspire the listener.

"Clubbed to Death 2" goes back to driving strings. With a simple drum beat and melodic strings and piano, the listener is easily reminded of the origianl "Clubbed to Death."

Taking whatever stress and anger you have out of you with the first songs, this album calms you with the latter songs, and leaves you in a peaceful and tranquil mood at the end. Whatever the reason, whatever the way, Rob Dougan's Furious Angels is going to reach you.