Customer Reviews

Operatica: "O", Vol. 1

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

this is truely one of the best CDs i have ever bought. I listened to this CD exclusivly for the first week i had it. I'm a techno junkie which a picky ear but the background beats to all the songs were pleasing and blended perfectly with the harmonics. The vocalist's haunting voice reaches into my heart and turns me inside out. I LOVE this CD and will definitely play this for ever. If you like beautiful music and good emotional techno/trance definitly buy this cd, it a true find.

When coupling sounds from two opposing polarities into one another and blending them into the perfect texturization of harmonics, one has to have a few things that fit nicely together in order to succeed. One has to first have a musical stylization that works when placed into an arena that isn't normally associated with its feel, making sure that the seams that could be ripe for the picking aren't taken advantage of. Next, one has to make sure that the voice behind the work, if there is a vocal combination in the work at all, is something that will work smoothly and will not let the vehicle of sense assailment down. Otherwise, the end result is painful and the art, it is merely noise. This is especially true when one is trying to fit a glove on the hand that isn't accustomed to wearing it, making certain that the fit is right and that the end result isn't too rudimentary because something was overlooked.

With Operatica: "O" Volume 1, the components come together fabulously and the seams don't really show at all except on the rarest of occasions (two songs out of eleven by my count, and perhaps that's more beat than anything), throwing a mixture of motions into a vocally moving ocean that would, on many occasions, be seen as items that wouldn't fit together. Here, the beautiful voice of Maureen O'Flynn mixes the operatic sounds I had never truly experienced into a sea of electronic beats, ambient rhythms, speaking pianos, and other vessels to compose the perfect structure. This takes a classical form and introduces it to a world that paints new scenes that couldn't have been painted otherwise, letting its audience ingest a spectrum of thoughts that they wouldn't intake normally. I, myself, was stunned to find that I was instantly addicted to the release, listening to it over and over again and wondering where Opera had been all of my life. Honestly, being a child of electronic music that drifts into heavier organisms of feeling, I never thought I would ever think such thoughts.

For people that can't bridge the span of biases and enjoy items that span gaps in tastes and in sensations, then this wouldn't be something that you would enjoy. There are many things within it, like the work itself, that aren't traditional and that a person looking for the flairless would find flavorless, from the sound clips used as accents to the beats that infest the sounds and make them dance through the mind with zeal. For someone that is looking for something that breaks outside the mundane drum and bass notions of music and that wants to hear an angelic voice pouring through synthetically fashioned skylines, then this might be something you'd look into tasting. Me, I never thought that something like this would find its way into my home, but it did more than that. It actually made me listen to things I hadn't really listened to, liking them for what might amount to a first time.

Very rarely does somebody have a great idea artistically and find a way to take that idea right to the edge of perfect. The combination of electronica and opera has been an idea long coming, yet nobody has either been brave enough to try it, or smart enough to really do it justice. It's obvious that electronic music is moving from its heavy beat-laden begginings and moving into something far more eclectic and "worldly" -- cultured even. When I first saw the title for this I knew I had to have it -- if it was what I though it was. And was I pleasantly surprised. Fantastic producing, a FLAWLESS mix and an all around fabulous list of tracks to play in almost any situation, this new genre of electronica is going to go much further than Volume 1. Because this album hasn't received much airplay yet, (or at least I haven't heard it) I think it's a rare find. I'm sure when the right DJs get their hands on it, that will quickly change. It's a great feeling to discover something on your own and that joy is getting increasingly harder to do in this heavily saturated market of mediocre and homogenous music. This album is anything but mediocre and is definitely original enough to lead and possibly even dare other "electronica technicians" to move the genre in the direction its been begging for -- world classic.

I like the idea of combining operatic vocals with electronic beats. It sure as heck sounds a lot more pleasing to the ears than say rap with heavy metal. When I first listened to this album I was kinda iffy on the cd. Maureen O'Flynn's vocals got on my nerves somewhat. After a couple of more listens I must say that I definitely like this cd more than I originally did in the beginning. The music is beautiful and Maureen O'Flynn's vocals are astonishing. Her vocals don't get on my nerves anymore except for track #8 "Get Off My Land". Frankly I would rather have that song "get off my cd" or at least the guy's rapping. That song felt out of place on this entire cd. I thoroughly enjoyed "Ave Maria", "Melancholy Rose" and "Bachianas Brasileiras No.5". Those tracks took my breath away. Sure the album didn't hit me right away and I don't care for "Get Off My Land" but in the long run I love this album. It's good to relax too I think.

Operatica is beautiful music.Some songs are slower than others, some a little faster.I never listened to opera before,but this CD is just awesome,even if they combined some electronic beats and different instrumentation.Maureen has a beautiful voice.Just makes it even more enjoyable.I generally listen to Trance but this is one CD I'll be listening to a whole lot to.It's nice to relax to this or take a nice ride while listening to.Melancholy Rose is just awesome.Very nice beats,very melodic,smooth.The whole CD is beautiful.If you like music by ERA,The Pilgrimage,Aria,then you'll love this.

I'm not usually an impulse CD buyer, but I couldn't resist this one. I was looking for something different, and got something beautiful. It's been described as electronica, but it is really more opera with a 90's twist. The subtle additions of beats and samplings just adds to the lovely voice of the singer. I can't recommend this album highly enough, especially for those of you who think you don't like opera!

If you like such music then I recommend that you try this one. Nicely sung and orchestrated. Buy it; it is worth it.

Operatica is a great example of how to mess things up when one simply plasters "beats" - mindless, pedestrian electronica under a different genre. In this case opera. The entire listening expereince is anti-cathartic, to say the least - reminiscent of the auto rickshaws plying the Bombay streets pumping out C-grade hi-treble bollywood `remixes'. Painful!! On the other hand, few years back on a similar foundation - electronica based classical project Rhythmic Fission: Digital Revisions of Classic Trax. That had some cutting edge DJs and producers of the progressive electronica camp, so they not only had a thorough understanding (and respect for the music), they catered to subtle nuances that allowed for Bartok, Bach or Stravinsky to be breathed a new life into without them turning in their graves.....maybe that's why it was aptly titled "fission"....as opposed to hapless `fusion'.

This compact disc is a very beautiful compilation. It is very relaxing, taking opera to a new level. Also, great to listen to driving home from work. An escape from the grind of work. Very beautiful recommended for anyone who loves trance music and a kick of opera. It is great to dance to in your workout!!!

I have listened to this CD more times than I can remember. I love the upbeat combined with the opera. Very beautiful music and a kick to listen to. You gotta try this CD.