Customer Reviews

The Reality Of A Dreamer

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When comparing this cd to all the junk one hears on mainstream/top 40 radio, it's brilliant. But when comparing it to Mythos' former album "Mythos" it comes as a bit of a dissapointment for me.

While Mythos has never been very intense compared to other bands within this genre of music, there were some beautiful stand-out tracks on their other album like "November", "June" and "Angel's Weep". "Mythos" was a very dreamy and exotic album with subtle ethnic elements and great vocal arragements. But on "Reality of A Dreamer" the ethnic elements have been dropped for even more classical influences (which Mythos doesn't seem to be able to thrive well on alone) and emotionally distant songs. The music isn't bad - it's just bland, and the "soulful" vocal arrangements on "Venice" are downright annoying.

When it comes to the world/ambient genre of music I was much more impressed by Govinda's follow-up album 'Entwined & Entranced' and the recent album by Enigma 'The Screen Behind the Mirror', which go beyond mood music - they are an experience!

I want to be able to remember an album after I've heard it, or have certain tracks linger in my mind for hourse or days afterward. This certainly wasn't the case with "Reality of a dreamer".

It's serves as great backround music but that's about it.

From the opening piano solo, to a more club groove to a blues/new-age mix, this follow up to Mythos' debut quickly allays doubts that anything was lost in the time between the two releases. The CD opens with a beautiful piano-centered track, with minimal background instrumentation, and doesn't stop. There are more heavenly, female, wordless vocals (save for a second version of "Vision" at the end of the CD), plenty to spare. Also, we have a more club edge on some of the tracks, probably from Mythos' recent collaboration with DJ Cosmos. Also featured at the end of a few tracks are some more gutsy blues-tinged vocal performances. A worthy debut with even more to offer!

Let's get this out of the way first: I love Mythos. The debut CD was filled with enchanting, wordless, timeless melodies from start to finish; every track is 5-star in my book. From the haunting opening of Brazil to the last second of the last track, MYTHOS was an album that utterly captivated my senses.

Reality of a Dreamer is not that album. It is good, there is no doubt, and compared to the commercial music most people hear all day, it is an effortless work of art. However, it falls short of its predecessor. Gone are the haunting, memorable vocals (no words, just beautiful humming) of November, gone is the dark and mystical sound of Sunless Sea, gone is the beautiful solo guitar of La Cathedral...

Reality of a Dreamer is a worthy investment for the Mythos fan, however, its tracks are quite consistently of 4-star and not 5-star quality. Some are even rated 3 in my iTunes player, shocking coming from a huge fan of the duo (Venice is really THAT bad)... but overall, it's still a great disc. The sound is a little tired-sounding, the euphoric perfection of the first is not quite up to par in the second, and the melodies are a bit recycled... but it is still Mythos, and that means it is still good.

Favorite tracks include Alchemy (admittedly, it took me a while), Redemption, Requiem, the two Vision tracks (although I am upset by their use of two very old and very overused samples), and Fantasy. However, all too often I feel a bit anxious to skip past the overused "lalala" style singing, only used sparingly in the first track and seemingly overapplied on this album...

You know what's wrong with Reality of a Dreamer? It's too happy, too meaningless, too insipid almost. It's a great piece of work, but compared with the drama and power of MYTHOS, it comes off being almost bubblegum-y in comparison.

Listen to all the tracks, and decide if this is really what you want to hear. If you've never heard Mythos, buy their first CD, MYTHOS, first. If you have, I'm sure you'll enjoy parts or even all of this CD, but it would be hard to say that this is better than their first.

I rather liked Mythos's self-titled first album and this is an excellent follow up/continuation. It has more electronica and classical elements this time around. Once again, the technical skill is wonderous and the arrangements are flawless. And again, only occassional obtrusive vocals (on Venice) detract from the mood.

Vision 1 & 2 are great tracks as are Alchemy (with that marvelous dark undertone that Mythos does so well) and The Ring. Vision 2 makes you wish they would employ lyrics more often, maybe they will next time.

Congratulations to all concerned on another superb CD. I look forward to their next effort.

PS Mythos has some of the best cover art I have ever seen. It makes you want to frame the case. I mention this because the art on both of their albums is what made me buy them.

I have heard Mythos, which is a great CD. Mythos maintains a "slow" tempo while creates a "sad" atmosphere when you hear it. Reality of a Dreamer is a more "thematic" album, as the next track is like a sequel of the previous one. It keeps the sad and mournful ambiance, and the background voices which complement some of the tracks are more heavenly than in Mythos. If you like their previous releases, you will definitely love Reality of a Dreamer.

A lush electronic soundscape, intriguingly reflective and enhanced by varied percussion and ethereal female vocalise. These compositions are perhaps richer and more penetrating than those on the group's previous release, self-titled Mythos, and more percussive as well, but the feel is similar. There is a European sensibility to this elegant, brooding and exotic music, reflecting times and venues as different as classical Venice and the modern Cirque du Soleil. Listening to Mythos' evocative and ever-changing music is a real treat--transporting and cathartic. It grabs your attention and pulls you in every time. I just love it! If you like Mythos, you might also enjoy the music of Monica Ramos on her album "Moai", and Kate Price's "The Isle of Dreaming".

You know how every so often a really terrific CD happens to come into your space and it is simply impossible to stop listening to it again and again? "The Reality of a Dreamer" is just such a CD and it is a total groove!

In recent years a lot of good things have been coming from the Canadians, videos, films, TV programs like "La Femme Nikita", "Forever Knight", some terrific sci fi films, etc. AND some awesome music. Canadians Bob D'Eith and Paul Schmidt are two fabulous artists whose amazing creativity makes it so easy to want to listen to their music, and I find myself grabbing their CDs first when I want to get a fresh and "hip" music fix.

Of the songs on this superb album, I have fallen in love with "Alchemy", "Vision I", the hauntingly beautiful "Fantasy " and my absolute favorite the ultra cool and exciting "Redemption" with the terrific sonic bends and other FX that take it to a whole new level. Plus the song titles are "tuned in" to the max also. Being a new ager myself I am not put off by the "new agey" liner theme notes for I know Higher Octave Music's Matt Marshall and Dan Seline personally, and they really live in that space of higher consciousness. They are very selective of the artists they sign on their label and they have to truly be exceptional. These musicians meet their criteria, and I am happy that there is one record label who honors the spirit as well as the soul of music and creators as wonderful as Mythos.

Unlike some other failed musicians who gave this a one star rating,(who are deaf and/or jealous), I thought this was an excellent ambient album. Beautiful without the obligatory worldmusic ethnicity dogma.

What a great CD! Too many second albums are disappointing as the artists simply produce more of the same. Not so this Canadian duo, who have produced an album more epic and on occasion ominous in feel yet still within the same ambient genre as the mournfully-flavoured first. The album seems almost thematic, and each track compliments the mood of the others. Favourite track - 'Requiem' - builds up in so many layers. Great!

From the dance music to the piano, this CD is pure musical bliss.