The Pearl

Aquanote

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 21, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• ASIN: B000069DJI
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #78,251 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From URB Magazine

You're relaxing in the lobby of LA's hyper-trendy Standard hotel. It's the kind of place where impossibly beautiful (and barely dressed) babes lounge in a glass case in the lobby. The cream of young Hollywood (hey, isn't that Tara Reid?) drape themselves across fancy couches. It's all so very.

The air is rich with chilled, subtle beats and mellow melodies, languid female voices and live instrumentation. You sidle up to the DJ and ask what's playing. She hands you Aquanote's new album The Pearl (featuring the signature buxom beauties that spring so readily from the pen of Naked's house artist Stuart Patterson) while cueing up "All Over You," an easy breeze of stoned '70s soul-jazz. Suddenly, Tara Reid is dancing on a table. Nervous busboys exchange furtive glances; this is definitely out of the ordinary. Reid's friends just laugh and order another round of drinks.

"One Wish," a salsa-dipped swinger akin to Curtis Mayfield producing a Jill Scott track inspires a couple passing through the lobby to launch into a spirited tango. People are coming in from the pool area to investigate the commotion. Reid's friends are now dancing and two brave young men join them. The songs blur into a wash of silky beats and summer heat. You make a mental note to pick of a copy of this CD when she walks in, even more beautiful than you'd remembered. If only you'd known that someday The Pearl would be the only thing left to remind you of that fatefully perfect August evening . . .

Mark Flash

Product Description

Aquanote is the recording alias of multi-talented San Francisco scan Gabriel Rene, & the second full length artist release following the success of the recent Blue Six album. As a founder member of Soulstice, Gabriel has forged a distinctive, genre-bending sound fusing soul, R&B, jazz-funk & deep house, which he has expanded even further on 'The Pearl'. With captivating vocal performances from Zoe Ellis & Lisa Shaw, this album continues to push the boundaries of the Naked Music profile in the U.S. dance market, & features some of the label's most visually arresting artwork to date. Naked Music/Astralwerks. 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Naked Beauty, August 16, 2002

By	The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Naked Music isn't simply a dance label; it's a way of life. Not content on being known merely for their groovilicious house compilations, Naked Music branches out into new territory on its solid release from the Pearl. "Aquanote" is the perfect solution for those who are looking for after-midnight jams featuring warm vocals, mellowed-out beats, and relaxing grooves. This is soul music, but without the sheen and gloss of much of modern r&b. The best track is easily "Heartbreaker," a downtempo song with a dash of hip hop flava set to impressive vocals. I agree that this is a CD you need to listen to at least twice to get under your skin, as it may not grab you the first time around. "Aquanote" is a fine release from one of the most independently-thinking labels out there.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What?!, May 5, 2005

By	Ruby Lee "smilingcupid" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews

Nearly three years later...I am just now getting hip. I must admit if I had heard this CD when it first dropped I would have slept on it anyway. In maturing, an appreciation for real music is developed. There is something significant and powerful about music that escapes the confines of labels and categories as people struggle to give it a name and group it with bona fide crap. Aquanote's The Pearl is one of those rare jewels that refuse to be named!

Normally I would say I'm not typically into house music; I'm more of a soulful laid back gal. With the fusion of sounds on this album I don't know where I belong but I know I am happy with this choice! The music is so energetic, so dynamic, so aesthetically amazing that I am running out of words. As I listen to it right now I want to stop what I am doing, close my eyes and let my body do whatever it wants! My heads bobs as I sway slowly to the rhythm of "All Over You" which is by far the most captivating track I have heard in a long time. The intro to "Never Let it Go" is like a dream that you never want to end as it slides into an irresistible uptempo dance beat. "Heartbreaker" is so damn real, so heartfelt, so honest that it must be repeated. Just listen. If you know and love music regardless of boundaries and set expectations just listen to the whole CD. You will be pleased.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 80's-influenced Nakedy goodness!, July 24, 2002

By	SoulQuarian (Melbourne, VIC Australia) - See all my reviews

for those delving into this cd expecting something along the lines of the Blue Six release (Beautiful Tomorrow), ur in for a very pleasent surprise. with hardly anything resembling the signature naked house sound, some might first be turned off, but the overall vibe is there and one must remember naked music fist started out as a soul outfit (see: naked music NYC). i guess the most appealing aspect of "the pearl" is it's heavy 80's influence (see: true love, all over you). some of the tracks almost sound like homages to 80's break-dance music, whereas the one outstanding track featuring the incomparable Lisa Shaw on vocals (all over you) just plain uses a big splashing snare, indicative of what is universally recognised as belonging to that certain era. the best thing is, this tribute to an often laughed upon era of music (by today's generation anyways) is done with no cheese attached, creating perhaps one of the most soulful homages to 80's r&b i've heard *ever*.

"the pearl" may take a couple of repeat listens to fully hook u in. at first i was slightly disappointed there were no house tracks at all, but that temporary insanity soon passed and i put this release up there with the naked greats. but then again, aren't they all greats? just think of Aquanote as another facet of the naked sound. Blue Six represents deep, stripped house. Miguel Migs (who's solo album is coming in Sep.) represents the more funky side of deep soul house. while Aquanote isn't "house", it shares the same cool vibe and fits along nicely in the naked collection, especially enhanced by soulshaking vocal performances by lisa shaw & zoe ellis just to name a couple. the styles range from breakbeat, to soul, to cool r&b, and brasilian. so get into it!

can't *wait* for the remixes (and you *know* they're gonna be plentiful).

V.