Customer Reviews

...and Love Rages On!

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One World, One People, One Voice: the message is in the music of ....and Love Rages On! With their new album, AO Music have created a collection of global grooves that manage to be both soothing and propulsive. The music's cinematic sweep and an impressive dynamic range combines booming, percussive cadences from all over the world with melodic vocal and instrumental interludes - recorded in real time by real musicians -- and the sounds of children's choirs from the United States, South Africa, China and the Republic of Georgia.

AO is an ancient Polynesian word that can mean either "pure light" or "all colors." It's a world that fits perfectly with the mission of the group's four principals -- singer/string instrumentalist/composer Richard Gannaway, keyboard, synth player/composer Jay Oliver, singer/composer Miriam Stockley and co-producer Sandeep Chowta - who collaborate with the goal of creating universally hybrid sounds that span continents and cultures.

Miriam Stockley's contributions on this nine-song collection stand out brilliantly as one who has now been a member of the group for seven years. Her signature vocal sound is beautifully compatible with the universal soundscapes created by Gannaway and Oliver, and her performances are stellar. Co-founder Richard Gannaway said, "Miriam's following from her days with Adiemus will be beyond pleased with this new collaboration, and new listeners will fall in love with her world-class voice and style."

The album opens with "Gaiya Lo Mane," a tune that slowly moves from a gentle beginning to a big, dramatic climax. Miriam's Celtic flavored vocals blend with the ardent openhearted sounds of the Florida based children's choir, The Chorus of Light. The wordless singing taps into the tradition of vocable music, "meaningless" phonetics that are chosen to allow humans to express the inexpressible. "In Lake'ch (I Am Another You)" takes its title from a Mayan phrase and opens with oud, bouzouki and hand percussion supporting the close unison of Stockley and Gannaway. The Martve Boy's Choir of Tibilisi, Georgia adds ambient polyphonic vocals to the track's subtle, spellbinding groove. Percussion lines that suggest Ireland, Cuba, India and West Africa open "Shen Deni;" Ashwin Srinivasan's flute and deep, flowing synthesizer textures add to the music's mystic feeling. For fans of chill music, "Sheyu" is among the most ambient tracks on the album, with Gannaway and Stockley's vocals poignantly calling for beauty, joy and hope.

Michael Cooney's pennywhistle set off the vocals of Johannesburg's Bishop Bavin St. George's Children's Choir on "Ena Na Lena" for a perfect Afro-Celtic fusion. The title is the song's only lyric, but the choir's melodic improvisations make the phrase irresistibly catchy. The CRC Children's Choir of Beijing supply the lead vocals on "One Kaleo," over a funky rock 'n' roll beat. The opening verse, in Chinese, references "Little Red Riding Hood," while the chorus voices the album's theme, "One world, one people, one kaleo (voice/spirit/song)." "Ubuntu" has a lively, interlocking percussion track, but the song still creates a soothing, meditative aura to bring the album to a tranquil close.

AOMUSIC has been described as "a pan-cultural acoustic fusion of musical texture from around the globe... a commonwealth of spirit and celebration." The first comparative reference point that came to mind as I began listening is the music of Peter Gabriel - although not surprising since they site him as a major influence, along with the likes of Deep Forest, Afro Celt Sound System, and Adiemus. AOMUSIC is comprised of three primary collaborators, Richard Gannaway (stringed instruments and vocals), Jay Oliver (keyboards and synth samples), and Miram Stockley (vocals). One of the most distinctive and integral facets in the sound of AOMUSIC is the inclusion of a variety of children's choirs from around the world. While there are diverse musical elements and cultures represented, there is one overriding message of the album and of the group: "AOMUSIC is the spirit, color and timbre of global oneness. "

This album, which features powerful driving percussion and rhythmic tracks that uplift the spirit, also gets your head nodding and foot tapping as well. Beautifully crafted electronic textures and earthy stringed instruments blend with the groove and the vocal tracks to create a sound that "is derived from the purity of primitive world culture... and at the same time, is presented within a palette of modern timbre and production."

AOMUSIC is a magical merging of accomplished professional musicians and blossoming young talent, and according to the group, "the goal is to never stray from a sense of purity and innocence. This album is majestic in its vision and magnificent in its presence, promoting a message of urgent relevance for our times.

For a full length review of this CD and others, please visit: [...]

The AOMUSIC album ...AND LOVE RAGES ON! contains unique world-music sounds for a new age. This is not world-music from one country or culture, but true modern music with elements taken from all over the world.

This is the third album from AOMUSIC and the three core members of the group have an incredible history in the music business. Richard Gannaway studies foreign languages and all types of obscure music like he was an ethnomusicologist. He sings and plays multiple-ethnic-string-instruments (his background is the modern bluegrass/nugrass group Homegrown Harvest Band, and the rock-n-roll recording group Tiger & the Helix). Keyboard wizard Jay Oliver came out of a jazz background (Maynard Ferguson, Dave Weckl, Chick Corea) before becoming an in-demand pop and rock session musician and composer in Los Angeles working with top acts such as the Eagles, Jimmy Buffett, Sheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, Boz Scaggs, Peabo Bryson, Joe Walsh and Glenn Frey. Miriam Stockley is best-known as the acclaimed lead vocalist of the group Adiemus, but her vocals also have graced recordings by Mike Oldfield, David Arkenstone, Kylie Minogue, Brian May, Tina Turner, Sarah Brightman, Queen, Katrina and The Waves and Natalie Imbruglia.

The first thing you notice about the music is how upbeat and joyful it is. Then you get to movin' and groovin' with the rhythms. Then your ear starts to hear all of the multi-layered vocals by both members of the group and a bunch of children's choirs from places like China and Africa. But only a small handful of buried lyrics are in English. The bulk of the singing is in either foreign languages sort of all mixed together, or the vocal sounds are simply wordless vocals, but sung just beautifully. It is a little disconcerting at first as you try to decide whether you are hearing words or sounds, but finally you just go with it and flow along with the soaring melodies and realize the voices are really just used as more instruments.

Maybe this really is music that anyone in the world could enjoy because it actually could be from anywhere, especially since it is sort of from everywhere. This just might be a taste of the future of music.

This is my new favorite album. I find the music to be both sensuous and uplifting. The production quality is outstanding and the vocals are superb. I am a big fan of phonetic type lyrics, such as those used by Dead Can Dance, which allow the listener to project their own meaning onto the lyrics; this technique is used beautifully in this incredible album. Highly recommended!

You can't help but feel the love on this joyous and exuberant celebration of the diversity of life throughout this planet. This is one of the most uplifting and inspiring albums I have had the pleasure of listening to in a long time.

AOMUSIC primarily consists of Richard Gannaway (stringed instruments, vocals), Jay Oliver (keyboards, synthesizers, samples), and Miriam Stockley (vocals), all of whom are also the principal composers and songwriters. They are backed by an impressive lineup of top session musicians and vocalists hailing from and recording in various parts of the world.

While most of the songs contain vocals, they are wordless vocals, or vocalese. In many cases, they are phonetically based on existing languages, helping create the sense of all the different languages of the world blending into one unified voice. In some cases, actual English can be discerned, such as on the second track's deep baritone intonation of "I am another you...You are another me." The throaty, raspy vocalization is so shadowy and sinister that it's almost subliminal, which is probably the intent so as to foster focused reception of the message. The song then ends with a beautiful chorus of "I am you and you are me" ad infinitum.

A key ingredient in the success of this album is the utilization of various children's choirs from around the world, including the CRC Children's Choir from Beijing in the People's Republic of China, the Martve Children's Choir from Tbilisi in the People's Republic of Georgia, and the Bishop Bavin St. George's Children's Choir from Johannesburg, South Africa. This bolsters the concept of different cultures and peoples coming together for a common goal - in this case a much-needed musical message.

This is a very enjoyable and stimulating album. If you like the global rock stylings of artists such as Peter Gabriel and Sting, as well as various ethnic vocals, you'll dig this.

Author: B.A. Matthews - Pagan Radio Network (PaganRadio.net)

When I first started reviewing, I wasn't all that sure what type of music I enjoyed. My tastes were eclectic at best and the only theme I could see running through my music was that it appealed to me. I've now been doing these for over a year and I've learned a little bit about my tastes in music. I don't like eclectic music. I like Good Music. Music that has been well-made, beautifully composed and sung or played from the heart. It is with pleasure that I bring one that has all of these components to you today.

AO Music's new album "...And Love Rages On!" is a combination of instrument and lyrics done by children's choruses around the world, containing groups work from the United States, China and India among others. Every song is a pleasant surprise to listen to and has its own soul and heart. Each song is filled with cyclical sounds (phonetic sounds chosen specifically for their resonance) and lyrics in ancient languages. The collective sound is timeless and uplifting every time. Each song matches the culture and sound of the singers and lyrics perfectly. It is definitely a new age sort of sound and the quality of each song is unmatched. I would describe it as a pan-cultural fusion of songs and sounds, a veritable flood of music upon your senses.

AO (a Polynesian word meaning "pure light" or "All colours" according to their site) Music strives to achieve a melding and mixing of many cultures without losing track of the whole and they are able to do this beautifully. On their site they say they have four basic tenants.

Youth - the vibrant, unguarded human presence & easiest example of beauty, hyper-intelligence & naturally occurring brotherhood

The present cycle of change and its simple need for lightheartedness & tolerance

The singularity of Music, Color, Shape & Movement

The overwhelming evidence that any natural system, unobstructed, is UNITY, is MUSIC, is LOVE

Their music is a fresh celebration of all of these and the celebration continues with each song you listen to. It's a merging of professional musicians and untried talent and it works. The main composers and members all live in different cities and yet are able to create pieces that many would be unable to do in a single room sitting together. It's a true meeting of the minds as it moves through the main contributors' hands, each adding and melding until the whole is all one item and yet each aspect of the album is distinct and identifiable. Perhaps unsurprisingly for a group so talented, they were even hired to create the song for the 2010 Beijing Olympics.

There is very little to complain about in an album as well done as this one. Each song is its own masterpiece. This album is worth every penny. The only issue I have with it is that as gorgeous as it is, it fills only a niche genre. The music is very specific and if you are in the mood for a variety of music, then you will find this moved off your shuffle feature quickly, unless you own and enjoy listening to a lot of similar works quite often. I have to admit though, when the largest problem with an album is that it doesn't work well in a large playlist, you're starting to grasp for straws. Final verdict: If you enjoy music that is light, easy to listen to, cultural and surprisingly unique, then this album is for you.

Five out of Five Pentacles