Pure Moods, Vol. II

Pure Moods (Series) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 17, 1998)
• Original Release Date: November 17, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virgin Records Us
• ASIN: B00000DMH7
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,866 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #66 in Music > World Music > Celtic > Fusion
  • #68 in Music > World Music > Celtic > New Age
  • #95 in Music > New Age > Celtic New Age

Track Listings

1. Mummers' Dance

2. Montezuma

3. The Cradlesong

4. Nightingale

5. Life in a Northern Town

6. Zarabanda (Saraband)

7. Euphoria (Firefly)

8. Weather Storm

9. Teardrop [Edit]

10. Theme from Harry's Game

11. Chariots Of Fire

12. Breezin'

13. Emily

14. 2 the Night

15. Beyond The Invisible

16. The Mystic's Dream

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Worthy Follow-Up, April 16, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Pure Moods, Vol. II (Audio CD)

It would be nearly impossible for Virgin to top the original Pure Moods. With this sequel album, they did not. Nevertheless, PM II is a very enjoyable album that features some of the best examples from the various musical styles that are generally lumped together as "New Age" music. This album is more eclectic than the first, and that leads to the weakness. Some of these songs just don't feel like they belong with the others. "Breezin'" is completely out of place and always makes me feel like I'm in the waiting room at the dentist. "Chariots of Fire" is a classic, and Vangelis one of the giants of this genre, but it doesn't really fit with the others, in my opinion. As in the original, this album features some songs you have probably heard before, like Loreena McKennitt's "The Mummer's Dance" and Clannad's "Theme from Harry's Game." The real joy of these albums, though, are the new finds that may have been below your radar before now. Thus we discover Yanni's "Nightingale," which I could listen to all day; "The Mystic's Dream," another gem from McKennitt; and the enthralling trip-hop masterpiece from Massive Attack, "Teardrop." For fans of Ambient music, this disc is a must, even if it is not the equal of its predecessor

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure For Your Enjoyment, September 20, 2001

By 

Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Pure Moods, Vol. II (Audio CD)

This is quite different from the first by adding such euro-popped/electronic bands as Massive Attack's "Teardrop" and Delerium's "Euphoria (Firefly)," but I am hardly complaining. This album has elements that the first had but also takes a new direction by leaping further into the threshold of reinvention. They still keep in the mix older classics in the genre such as the ethereal "Theme From Harry's Game" by Clannad, "Weather Storm" by Craig Armstrong, and "Zarabanda (Sarabanda)" by Adiemus, but these new, fresh faces give this album an extra push towards higher greatness. Still, though, the queen of celtic music, Loreena McKennitt, lends Pure Moods 2 its durability to stay strong with the commonplace of "The Mumurs Dance" and also "The Mystic's Dream."

Favorites to me include Enigma's "Beyond The Invisible," which for some reason reminds me of the movie Legend, and Yanni's offering of "Nightingale" which is quite possibly the loveliest song I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. It starts out slow and then quickly builds momentum as the music rises higher and the singing grows more intent. It then slows down again, and just as you think that it's going to perish into the next it starts up again. I even enjoyed the jazzy "Emily" by David Coz and the steaming Flamenco sounds of Ottmar Liebert's "2 The Night." This could, however, do without the image of slow running that the song "Chariots Of Fire" conjures... Anyhow, let me grant you lost without this.

This is a beautifully intricate album.

Expand the possibilities....

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Most good, but some aren't so good., February 22, 2000

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Pure Moods, Vol. II (Audio CD)

Most of this CD is pretty good, with some pretty good choices. Loreena McKennitt's music fit well on this CD. There was also very beautiful music by Yanni, Cusco, Clannad, and "Chariots of Fire" were also pretty good. There was also more great music by Adiemus, Enigma, and Sacred Spirit.

However, there were also some not so great songs. "Euphoria" and "Teardrop" sounded too much like rock to be on this New Age compilation. "Breezin'" was okay, but "Emily" was too jazzy. "Life In A Northern Town" wasn't that great. Well, it had interesting lyrics, but the music was weak.

In the end, I'd say this CD ismostly pretty good. There was beautiful music, but there was also pop, jazz, and rock that did not belong here. This CD is actually a pretty worthy buy, but this is by no means better than the first Pure Moods.