Customer Reviews

Quiet Letters: Us Edition

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

89.9 FM KCRW Santa Monica's evening DJs Jason Bentley and Raoul Campos have been playing Bliss' new CD the past month, "Kissing" especially. (Bliss also have another great percussion driven track on a new Oliver Peoples CD that KCRW is also playing.)

This is ultra chill. I came home from a hard day's work last week, lit candles, incense, got in the tub with this CD on - it's the poor man's/woman's spa.

Bliss' members are from Denmark, Sweden and West-Africa (doesn't specify which W.Af. country, but I'm guessing Ghana, since there are a number of folks from Ghana residing in Denmark.

Marc-George Andersen handles all keyboards and Steffen Aaskoven takes care of "samples and sound design". The two produced and arranged all the twelve tracks with Kenneth Bager, a veteran Danish DJ/producer getting executive producer credit.

Tchando, a West African singer who lives in Denmark with his Danish wife and their two children (there are many African musicians/singers in Denmark who greatly add to the Danish music) scene gives the album an "Youssur N'Dour flavor".

Danish/African Al Agami contributes his voice to "Song for Olabi" together with Danish opera soprano Xenia Lach-Nielsen, whose vocals were also added to "Kissing".

The female lead vocals: Swedish (I believe) Alexandre Hamnede sings on most of the tracks, including the chill hit - "Kissing".

Sophie Barker from Zero 7 provides vocals on the beautiful "Don't look back" and and the okay "Right Here".

Pretty voices, for sure, albeit not very distinctive. There's some Sade influences, some Deep Forest, some Enigma, some "cinematic music" flavor. It's soothing, pretty, and occasionally spine-tingling. (What makes Sade unique is that her music is pretty too, but it's "sophisticated-pretty" and her voice is unlike anyone else's. The closest Sade like voice I've heard is Rachel Foster, the truly sublime white British singer who makes up one half of the duo The Weekend Players - they have a new album coming out later this year. Their "The Pursuit of Happiness" from a few years ago is a 11 on a 1-10 scale)

But back to Bliss's Quiet Letters: as a bubblebath/candle soundtrack, it's sheer perfection and there should be room for this type of music. The lyrics are "fillers", but hey, it can't all be Bob Dylan. Be openminded, expose yourself to different music.

Scandinavia has given us the Sugarcubes, the comepletely unique Bjork, Sigur Ros, the Hives, KOOP, Royksopp, the Raveonettes, and of course Abba and Roxette. Of these, Bjork and Koop are my favorites hands down, but Bliss is a nice addition. I give this CD four stars, in part because of the production, which is sublime - sounds amazing even on my 10-year old cheap Sony boom box.

Note: Bliss employ several Danish musicans on this album who will not be familiar names to US audiences:

Jacob Andersen, sublime veteran percussionist.

Mads Vinding, veteran jazz bass player.

Kim Sjogren, a well-respected conductor in Denmark, provides the string music with The Mermaid Strings.

Interesting by the way how music can make things come full circle. Denmark was once a slave trading nation, getting her royal hands bloody in the West Indies (now the US Virgin Islands.) There is a former slave fortress on the coast of what is now Ghana. It is/was named Christiansborg which just happens to be the name of the castle in Copenhagen that once belonged to the Danish royal family but now houses the parliament. The musicians/singers from Ghana who settle in Denmark, marry Danish women and have children, bring their music to the country that brought their ancestors to the West Indies to work the sugar plantations until ca. 1848. The circle is complete, with Danish and African musicians coming together and making music.

In the US, this CD is out on the great Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles label Quango. In Denmark, the label is Music for Dreams. (Bliss also have several tracks on various chill music compilations, some of which are Quango releases).

This is a remake of the european CD which was released last year. Four songs have been replaced with songs from their first album. Still a truly superb album - in any way you want to see it. Smooth and blissful music from Denmark.

Now - what REALLY puzzles me is why they still call it "Quiet Letters"... The title track is no longer included on this U.S.-version.

I have heard songs by this band, Bliss, on various Buddha-Bar and those Siddhartha CDs. I looked for their own CD, but couldn't find it. Finally, I picked up this CD today and I'm totally amazed and the sheer beauty of it. If you like those Buddha-Bar CDs or are into world-ethno lounge or chillout music, then get this CD, it's wonderful.

Absolutely fantastic cd made with loving intentions. Its melancholic beauty will capture your heart right from the start. If you like to feel good, contented and peaceful inside, this is the cd to enhance your pleasure. Gorgeous music and bittersweet but always conscious and touching lyrics sung by naturally beautiful women make this a future classic release for intimate times with friends or just enjoying life with oneself.

This is truly heart music, and it's not good for you who only know your head, I see. Maybe you have no idea how bliss feels like, but then I suggest that you start learning deep meditation and see how this album grows on you as your love and awareness grows.

This gorgeous album is a perfect summer chill out record. Sophie from Zero 7 blesses 2 tracks with her ethereal voice. The lush orchestration, gentle percussion and captivating sound make this album a natural addition to the Quango Music catalogue!

Really like what they said in the editorial reviews, one of those albums that you have always been looking for without ever finding no more words to say... This album is amazing, nice, magical, romantical, unbelivable, melodical, and it will take you any place you want to visit by your soul, you will keep it with you every where!

I am very amazed that there are not enough reviews for this gem. If you are looking for a unique experience then you must consider this CD. I have heard many of their tracks on other CD's such as Buddha Bar and Cafe Del Mar. It is very understandable why some of the most predominant music producers are attracted to their music.

A tightly woven string of music weaves the listener into the fabric of Bliss. Slightly reminiscent of B-Tribe in some instances; sometimes delving into a jazzier sound at others. This album is well-produced and listeners in my home always ask,"Who IS that and where can I find that CD?"

Others have mentioned how relaxing this CD is but no one has mentoned how sensual and erotic it is. "Kissing" is a song you have to listen to while kissing to fully appreciate. I leave the rest to the listener's imagination but recommend keeping the CD in the bedroom. It's a masterpiece of mood and emotion.

I love the unique sound of this group. The instruments and backup singers incorporate music from all over the world and the lead vocalist has an amazing voice with elements of some of my other favorites groups Portishead and Evanescence. Track 2 entitled "Kissing" is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a long time. Other must haves are "Wish U Were Here" and "Remember My Name."