REALWORLD: Ovo: The Millennium Show [Import]

Peter Gabriel | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 12, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B00004TKZO
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,780 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Low Light

2. The Time of the Turning

3. The Man Who Loved the Earth/The Hand That Sold Shadows

4. The Time of the Turning (Reprise)/The Weavers Reel

5. Father, Son

6. The Tower That Ate People

7. Revenge

8. White Ashes

9. Downside-Up

10. The Nest That Sailed the Sky

11. The Tree That Went Up

12. Make Tomorrow

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Created for the performance area situated at the center of London's Millennium Dome, Ovo is an ambitious concept piece that attempts to address the stages of human evolution through a family saga. That it fails is not all that surprising, given the project it's associated with. Never one to be intimidated by a concept or a challenge (see Genesis, the early years, or The Last Temptation of Christ), Gabriel may have been the ideal choice for a multicultural, technology-focused show, and his general instincts seem sound. But even Cirque du Soleil, whose work this most resembles, never had to contend with the blending of Gaelic folk and tribal overtones, techno-futuristic soundscapes, gentle ballads, or a sludgy reworking of "Digging in the Dirt," complete with a rapped story line. Though there are some fine, interesting moments here, they're too often lost in the shuffle--which sounds as much like a requiem for the Dome as it does for Ovo. --Randy Silver

Product Description

Dutch limited edition version of the artist's soundtrack tothe show he created for the Millenium Dome in London. This special edition includes a bonus CD single, comic book, multimedia tracks, a bonus track and comes packaged in a slipcasewith a standard

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just to clarify a couple things.., July 21, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: REALWORLD: Ovo: The Millennium Show (Audio CD)

As you can deduce from these comments, Ovo is not the next proper Peter Gabriel album. It's more like the soundtrack to a stage show he co-wrote, although that's not entirely accurate either. Peter wrote and played on the songs and sings on four of them. Peter's usual band plays on much of the album as well, and they're joined by a large cast of other musicians from around the world. The songs can stand on their own as a complete album, although they also come together in the context of the larger story. There's a talented blending of all kinds of different sounds and musical styles in all the songs here.

The 'regular' import version contains the regular 12-track audio CD including the "Story of Ovo" rap song (a wretched selection, I'm sorry to say). The limited edition has almost the same CD minus that track, plus one more instrumental cut ("The Nest That Sailed the Sky"), plus a couple extras. There's a slipcase cover and a booklet with the Ovo story told in comic-book style. The aforementioned omitted rap song is included on a separate disc, also with several extra CD-ROM features including lengthy movie clips of the show.

If you like PG, especially Passion or Security, Ovo is definitely worth a listen. If you just appreciate good music, it's still worth a listen. If you're like the rest of us still suffering the interminable wait for the release of Up... well, it's much better than nothing.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Millenium hopes, August 10, 2003

By 

Stephen J. Swellander (San Antonio, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: REALWORLD: Ovo: The Millennium Show (Audio CD)

I ordered this special import thinking it was a live CD of the now legendary millenium show. In case you are harboring similar misconcenptions, it's not live. It's the OVO album with a few extras. It has an OVO rap single (you may or may not like it), a fairly cool color booklet with pictures from the show and some PC extra video from the show--abstract looking aerial shots of show choreography.
If you already have the standard OVO disc, you won't be getting much new here. It all depends on how serious a collector you are. Fortunately, I hadn't bought OVO yet, so the import, though a little pricey, filled the bill. Unlike some Peter Gabriel fans, I happen to like OVO very much. I think it is one of the most interesting and innovative musical projects he has designed. Hopefully one day he will release a DVD of the show (certainly someone must have filmed it!). It was an historic occasion, apparently a very big show, and many of us Gabriel fans across the world were unable to see it.

C'mon Peter. Share the fun.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Fine new Gabriel work ..., August 11, 2000

By 

"mnensel" (Silver Spring, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: REALWORLD: Ovo: The Millennium Show (Audio CD)

Peter Gabriel returns with this very fine soundtrack to "OVO: The Millennium Show". Now I haven't deciphered many of the lyrics yet,nor have I read the comic storybook. This review concerns the music and whether this CD is a good listen, and my initial response is O yes this is a good one! Many of Gabriel's Real World co-horts appear, both vocally and instrumentally, so the overall sound is rich, textural, with heavy ominous synth drones and much exotic percussion. In some ways it is similar to "Passion" in its musical 'heavyness', but its tone is a bit more optimistic, as the piece seems to be about the evolution and future of man. Its story seems to be both about the wonderment of man's possibilities, and exasperation and mourning for man's failings. In other words, Gabriel's typical espressions of insight and melancholy. Track 1: "Low Light" is a gorgeous and dramatic synth drone with vox from the great Gaelic/Afro Celt Sound System singer Iarla O Lionaird. Track 2 "Time of the Turning" is in a similar airy, dramatic vein, with very Gabriel-ish vocals from Richie Havens, and lovely singing from Alison Goldfrapp, as well. Track 3 "Man Who Loved the Earth" is an instrumental electronic beat and soundscape. Track 4 "The Weavers Reel" is exactly that - a very lively Celtic reel. Track 5 "Father Son" is a new slow Peter Gabriel classic, emotional and elegaic, somewhat like "Here Comes the Flood". Track 6 "Tower that Ate People" -- Gabriel goes industrial, with guest electronic treatments by BT and a good moderately funky beat. Track 7 "Revenge" is an instrumental Drums and effects track. Track 8 "White Ashes" is a way out, nightmarish track of effects, electronics, and chant-like vocals. Track 9 "Downside Up" is superb -- group vocals with Elizabeth Fraser, Paul Buchanan (from the Blue Nile, also sounding very Gabriel-ish); midway thru the song starts rocking, and the "OVO" refrain arrives. The coda features Gabriel's distinctive and stately piano - you know it's him, you've heard that sound before! Track 10 "The Nest .." is a beautiful spacy soundscape .. music to roam the desert by. Track 11 "The Tree that went up" is a dramatic instrumental climax-building tune, kind of like the closing track of 'Passion', but a bit more ominous. Track 12 "Make Tomorrow" is a gorgeous epic track with Buchanan, Havens, Fraser and Gabriel all contributing vocally. Some lyrics stand out: "when it seems hopeless, make tomorrow today", and Gabriel's god-like yet wistful observation: "sitting in a spaceship looking down at the earth, what're they all struggling for, what's it all really worth" -- awesome! The extra CD "Story of OVO" is downright bizarre - a trudge-paced tune with a rapped vocal and odd background vocals and sounds -- kinda like the weirder 'Passion' tracks, but with rap and a Gabriel-sung chorus. All in all, "OVO" contains riches to keep Gabriel fans content for months to come! Well done Pete!