Customer Reviews

REALWORLD: Ovo: The Millennium Show

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Because it is an import-only soundtrack to an obscure project,
"Ovo" was completely overlooked in the USA, where most people believe his first studio project since "Us" was the 2002 ambient instrumental soundtrack "The Long Walk Home", and then finally the proper rock/pop followup "Up" which has now just been released. However, like all Gabriel projects "Ovo" is an essential purchase, and one which will delight and surprise in unexpected places. First, although it is the soundtrack to the "Millenium Dome" project, it is not an instrumental work--8 of its 12 cuts feature lyrics and vocals, which would make it the proper studio followup to "Us" (indeed, several of the songs for this and "Long Walk Home" actually derive from the initial sessions for "Up"), the only deviation being that Gabriel chose several other singers to work with him on his songs. Second, it has a narrative storyline, which would be the first time he has attempted such a thing since Genesis' "The Lamb" (or maybe the abandonded late 70s concept "Mozo"). Thus, "Ovo"'s ambitions are indeed quite grand; the amazon[.com] reviewer is right in that it is at times over its head, with bright moments getting lost in a tapestry that may be a little *too* eclectic, but there are more than just a few "OK" songs here.

The only real regret I have about "Ovo" is that, although I like Paul Buchanan, Richie Havens and Elizabeth Frazer, I think Gabriel should've taken the lead on every track and used them only for backup vocalists. This would have made the album sound more consistent, for his voice is still supreme and these are his songs; they all bear his stamp so vividly that even when someone else is singing, I hear Peter. The songwriting is very strong, the melodies are as melodic and the rhythms as innovative as ever, with all of it reminding one of his past work while pointing to a further evolution of the sound: one
unexpected feature of the album is that while Gabriel has been particularly fond of Middle Eastern and North African world music elements in his music for nearly two decades now, in the attempt to be truly global for "Ovo"'s millenial aspirations, elements of indigenous Western forms are blended to the mix to
create a fusion unique to the record but that would then inspire the sound of the following "Up".

Highlights include the touching minimal piano ballad "Father Son" (which could be on any of his albums), the grindingly energetic and innovative techno-rocker "The Tower That Ate People" (a potential hit if only it had been promoted more), the graceful opening "Low Life", "Downside-Up" (Frazer's best moment here) and the 10 minute (!) closing "Make Tomorrow", an epic which involves all four singers and the kind of atmospheric, multi-sectional writing that would mark "Up". This edition of the CD is better than the other, which opens with a rap rendition of "The Story Of Ovo" that is unnecessary, and is replaced with the innocuous but better-fitting instrumental "The Tree That Went Up". I don't understand the couple of reviewers who charge this album is boring--"Long Walk Home"'s ambient instrumentals may have provoked a snooze or two, but "Ovo" is constantly changing styles, moods and singers, and at least one track ("The Tower That Ate People") ranks with his toughest and most danceable rockers. In short, "Ovo" is a great PG album, and makes a good pair with "Up"; I just wish he had sang all the leads.

I think that the true measure an album's greatness is how often I listen to it and how many tracks I skip over. I bought this album online from RealWorld overseas, the day it became available. I have listened to it countless times in the months since then (over a year now, I think). I never tire of it and I never skip tracks.

It's not all Gabriel. He appears on several tracks but not all of them. This is very much a group effort. He has chosen a group of singers each of whose voices is immedately distinctive and beautiful, yet all of whom fit in perfectly with his of music. Paul Buchanan, Elisabeth Fraser, Richie Havens, Alison Goldfrapp, and others.

He did write all the music and lyrics on the album and it shows. From the soft opening notes of "Low Light" (I still want to know what those Gaelic lyrics mean!) until the closing chorus of "Make Tomorrow" this album is Pure Gabriel. In my opinion, it's the best work he's done since "Passion".

If you liked "So", if you absolutely loved "Passion", I think you will love "Ovo" as well. To me, those three albums represent the peaks of Peter Gabriel's solo career.

By the way, prefer THIS version of the album (the limited edition version with the red and blue "tower" cover), over the American version (the one with the green cover). This version has an extra track and wisely relegates the hip-hop-ish "The Story Of Ovo" track to a separate disc where it belongs. It's the only bad thing about the American version.

It was good to hear from PG again. I just played the CD over and over again. It's kind of exotic, mystic, very straight to your senses. It reminded me of Passion, specially, but more mature. Ok, PG is not the young, crazy man of Genesis, Supper's ready to Shock the Monkey great moments, but he is an excellent composer and a great story teller. The OVO fable is just amazing, and it looks that the Millenium Show was excellent too, although it reminded me of Cirque du Soleil a little. If you enjoy good music then go fot it!

... Taken in the right light, this underrated set of compositions is worth discovering and should satisfy Gabriel fans who enjoyed Last Temptation or, even more so, Birdy (except that this is all original material).

It would have been nicer to have Peter take all the lead vocals, given that his voice is one of his best strengths. However, he appears more director than performer in the project, playing and arranging the music rather than being the rock star behind the mic, and his vocal stand-ins, Ritchie Havens and Paul "Blue Nile" Buchanan, are perfect analogs for him. Standout tracks are "Downside Up," " Make Tomorrow," "The Time of the Turning," and the hard-edged "The Tower That Ate People."

Millennium makes a better listening experience, so I'd start with it if buying it for the first time, but people who already bought OVO don't really need to trade up. Millennium gives a better package (comic book for the kids, cardboard slipcover, different artwork, expanded CD booklet with photos and commentary on the Millennium Dome Show) and improves the playing sequence slightly by adding a brief extra tune, the celebratory marching-band number "The Tree That Went Up," while placing "The Story of OVO" rap on a separate CD single. This also features the same video clip of the Show, scored with "Nest that Sailed the Sky," as that on both versions of the album. The brief time-lapse video can't do the Show justice but is still lovely to watch and the only way most people will ever get to see it.

OVO/Millennium is great listening, especially once the details of the story are sorted out. The atmospheric, polyrhythmic, mostly instrumental melodies shouldn't be considered a commercial follow-up to Us, but they fit nicely in the sequence of Gabriel's music, continuing his same rough alternation between pop album and non-commercial project.

I think that the true measure an album's greatness is how often I listen to it and how many tracks I skip over. I bought this album online from RealWorld overseas, the day it became available. I have listened to it countless times in the months since then (over a year now, I think). I never tire of it and I never skip tracks.

It's not all Gabriel. He appears on several tracks but not all of them. This is very much a group effort. He has chosen a group of singers each of whose voices is immedately distinctive and beautiful, yet all of whom fit in perfectly with his of music. Paul Buchanan, Elisabeth Fraser, Richie Havens, Alison Goldfrapp, and others.

Gabriel did write all the music and lyrics on the album and it shows. From the soft opening notes of "Low Light" (I still want to know what those Gaelic lyrics mean!) until the closing chorus of "Make Tomorrow" this album is Pure Gabriel. In my opinion, it's the best work he's done since "Passion". It's not quite the collection of singles that "So" was nor does it evoke the atmosphere of "Passion". Still it is super. This album is sometimes catchy and melodic, other times moody, but always superb.

If you liked "So", if you absolutely loved "Passion", I think you will love "Ovo" as well. To me, those three albums represent the peaks of Peter Gabriel's solo career.

By the way, prefer THIS version of the album (the limited edition version with the red and blue "tower" cover), over the American version (the one with the green cover). This version has an extra track and wisely dispenses with "The Story Of Ovo" track (and relegates a terrible rap version of it to a separate disc where it belongs). It's the only bad thing about the American version.

Being a big Peter Gabriel fan, I bought both Ovo and Millennium Dome. I have to say that this is cd is better than Ovo. The only difference is that this cd includes "The Tree That Went Up", and Ovo contains "The Story of Ovo". While "Story" is a good song, it's just kind of an overview of the whole. "Tree" just seems to fit in better in this recording, and I think that the Ovo cd loses something by not including it. "Tree" stays in the same style as the rest of the cd, and "Story" doesn't really fit in well at all, it seems to just be kind of thrown onto the cd. All the rest of the songs on the cd are terrific, all different themes of music are explored. Really groundbreaking for him, as nothing really reminds me much of any of his other stuff. For anyone who's interested,... you can hear a good clip from "Time of The Turning", and I think there's a video clip of "The Nest That Sailed The Sky". It lets you hear the song, and see a snippet of the Millenium Dome show as well...

Ovo is lush and filled with visual gems. I was yet disappointed that Peter doesn't sing that much on the album, but the artists he did collaborate with are wondeful. Thsi album has opened my eyes even more to the world music genre. My favorite song on this record is a tie between The Time Of The Turning (reprise) and Downside-up. This album is touched by genius. It is a must to any Gabriel fan and for anyone that has good taste in music,lol.