Customer Reviews

E.S.C.M.

5 star:		(62)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was breathless as I listened to the finely created landscapes that Brian infused music into. This is truly a work of art and I found myself being wisked away, on a music-filled joyride!

His progressive trance style is rather different from the "normal" artists under this genre. He mixes different musical elements into the equation, producing tracks such as "Solar Plexus" (hard binding trance, with elements of guitar laced rock), "Nectar", and "Love, Peace, and Grease."

The two songs I found completely extraordinary and brilliant, were "Lullaby for Gaia" and "Remember." I think that the combination of the wonderfully created atmospheric trance and the lyrics prove to make these songs my favorite on the album. Jan Johnston's voice is uplifting and the music follows this climatic theme. Throughout the album, the avid listener really gets a chance to see how BT's inspiration influences his music! I'd suggest this album to anyone who likes dancy, textured trance!

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Its a soundtrack for your mind. You should listen to it from begining to end that is why it says track 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc. BT mixes so many different styles together trance, house, drum and bass, guitars, nature sounds, everything into a beautiful journey. The songs mix right into each other it almost seems like one long song. ESCM (Electric Sky Church Music) is one of the most emotional CD's I have ever heard So just take a trip, close your eyes and let your imagination take control!!!!!

Quite simply, this is one of my favorite albums. Even though it is often rousing, aggressively constructed electronic music, it is tremendously beautiful and it hits me on a spiritual level that is difficult to describe. BT is an immensely talented songwriter, capable of remarkable breadth of stylistic considerations. ESCM completely evades the unfortunate element of invariability that pervades most albums like this. Even where BT's velvety-smooth beats enwrap conventional pop-song structure, as on "Lullaby for Gaia" and "Remember," the result still feels fresh because of innovative arrangements and the sheer press of emotion. When the melodic themes from "Flaming June" make a return in "Content," the overall color seems different and thus fresh, as if you've never heard it before.

And how about that "Flaming June." Huh. Although it is really just a cookie-cutter trance song, the shimmering piano overlays, amazing keyboard lines, and desperate sense of build-up puts it on a whole different level of goodness (and what a cool song name!). The album begins enticingly with "Firewater," almost adopting a new age form of relaxing, languid textures with some guy singing about "fire in the sky." BT integrates acoustic guitar and a wavy string section here that shows demonstrates a bit of his inventiveness. "Solar Plexus" is raw alterna-rock with where the electronics hover around the edges, only inconspicuously suggesting a DJ's presence. Jan Johnson contributes her cool & ethereal voice on "Lullaby for Gaia" and "Remember," where she sings gorgeous, liquid melodies around BT's energy-ripped beats. It sounds like she has a touch of a Norwegian accent to her voice (which is good), but I'm probably imaging things. Hey, that reminds me - BT should get Anneli Marion Drecker (from Bel Canto) to sing on his next album! That would be, like, cool n' stuff.

I realize this music is probably best fitted to the dance scene, but I love it simply for relaxing. Still, even though I like listening to ESCM in a tranquil setting, it possesses a silent intensity that keeps it from devolving into new age territory and putting me to sleep (not that new age is bad, it's just not right for this album). Anyhoo, since I'm definitely no expert on this kind of music, my opinion may not hold much credence, but for an emotional, beautiful, and exciting album, you could do much, MUCH, worse than ESCM.

In my opinion "ESCM" is BT's best original album I have heard from him so far. I didn't particularly care for "Movement in Still Life" although there were a few songs that I liked on the album. The recently released "Rare & Remixed" is quite good but most of the material is remixes of songs already released thrown in with some unreleased tracks. One of my favorite songs off "ESCM" is "Lullaby for Gaia". The vocals from Jan Johnston has easily established her as one of my favorite female vocalists. The entire song is filled with intricate melodies that just takes the listener's breathe away. Another personal favorite track from this cd is "Firewater". It is an eight minute + some epic trance classic with an excellent vocal contribution from a T.H. Culhane. His vocals to this song could almost be compared to Matthew Sweet's contribution to "Daylight" on Delerium's "Poem" album. Simply one of the best songs ever by BT, next to "Lullaby for Gaia". Of course "Remember" is another fave of mine since this is another Jan Johnston song. On an overall scale, I love how Brian has fused the delicate, fragile sounds of the piano with the 125 BPM (or more so) of trance music. It is an aural soundscape of pleasure. I rank this cd as one of the best non-remixed trance cds around .

ESCM is one of the most wonderous albums I have ever had the pleasure of listening to. I am a big fan of Bt (I have all of his albums), but this one is the real standout and is definitely his best by far. ESCM is a transcendental journey through the soul in search of all things beautiful. It also explores the darker side of beauty. I actually really got into the album through listening to it while reading Frank Herbert's Dune chronicles. The swirling mix of both natural and electric sounds really complemented the books perfectly (if you are a Dune fan, you will understand). There are actually a multitude of styles explored on the album and they all fit together perfectly, flowing into one another thematically like a concept work. The tranquil dreaminess of 'Firewater, boiling, NIN influenced rage of 'Solar Plexus', sinister, off-kilter rhythm of 'Orbitus Terranium', the progressive house explosion of 'Nectar' (my personal favorite)... it all just really works. Also, his collaborations with Jan Johnston (the most beautiful voice in techno) on 'Remember' and Lullaby For Gaia' are beautiful as always. Real anthems. ESCM is THE album to own by Bt, followed closely by the import version of Movement In Still Life (the American version is painful). If you have any interest in electronic soundscapes, get this album. Another plus is that the album comes off as very ethereal without being too 'new-agey'. ESCM stirs the emotions honestly, never resorting to the cheesy, bloated insincerity of Enigma (which some of the songs could be compared to). Bt can be pretentious at times (which isn't necessarily bad. It is 'progressive'!), but ESCM is an exquisitely polished jewel. A great album to make love to.

I only discovered BT's greatness some time ago, i'd heard him before but only very fast so i never got a real impression of his music. BT aka Brian Transeau is a american dj that makes dream-dance. A very sensual and beautiful kind of trance. The songs are often slow and quite deep. "Orbitus Teranus" has to be one of the most beautiful songs of the genre, a slow piano song with wonderful melody. The song that catch my attention was "Flaming June" though, it's faster but still sensual with sounds of a inca flute. Very meliodic and charming. BT is a extra ordinary mixer, so he creates a very unique sound to his music. I'm crazy for instrumental songs but there are a few good that aren't instrumental aswell. "Lullaby for Gaia" with Jan Johnson. And "Firewater" with T.H Culhane. "Content" sounds alot like "Orbitus" and it's also beautiful. "Memories In A Sea Of Forgetfulness" has a very unique deep sound too, but it's darker then most here. "Solar Plexus" is the fastest song, it's almost rock at some point. Overall it's a wonderful album, probably his best. I really understand why many like his music, cause it appeal to many diffrent musically interested persons, it's easy and artistic. Great work.

Jesus. Man... Let me tell you...

This is the Best CD I own. Out of ALL my music, The Crystal Method, Orbital, Leftfield, Oakenfold.... THIS IT IT.

BUY IT RIGHT NOW - BUY IT RIGHT NOW - BUY IT RIGHT NOW - BUY IT RIGHT NOW - BUY IT RIGHT NOW - BUY IT RIGHT NOW - BUY IT RIGHT NOW - BUY IT RIGHT NOW - BUY IT RIGHT NOW -

This is the BEST DREAM HOUSE I HAVE EVER HEARD.

BT is a Genius and a Master.

May he go to heaven for the Trip he has provided me with.

WHO NEEDS DRUGS??

JUST BUY THIS CD - Youll be glad you did!!!

Truly a great album. I got it right when it came out in 1997 and i liked most of it. 21 hearings later, the last of them yesterday, after an 8-month pause, blew me away again. Right from the start with 'Firewater', I never enjoied it more, it's fabulous! 'Orbitus Teranium' keeps you company until 'Flaming June' arrives, and when it does, it's hell for the neighbors! When the base really hits off at 2min I'm in heaven! The other tracks before 'Remember' are not as good as the others in my opinion, but 'Remember' is another pearl in this album. Jan Johnston's vocal are sublime (also check Submerge's 'Take Me By the Hand' from 1996 where she sang too, fabulously I might add!) and the structure of it is great (great job Brian!). Then I was blown away as I never heard anything like the bass lines on 'Love Peace and Grease' which hit even harder on the closing track 'Content', another masterpiece. The sound on these two tracks is so clean, especially the bass. Referring to the German edition, so not includes the other J.J. track and most of all missing the Tori Amos collaboration, which was sooo 'Taken from the forthcoming album ESCM' on the UK sleeve. Indeed. Buy the singles anyway 'cause the remixes are all great, especially BT's own and Paul Van Dyk's. PUMP UP THE VOLUME FOR THIS ONE! (d_h_monroe@hotmail.com)

Hands down one of THE best electronic albums of all time. This album didn't get as much attention as it should have, but it deserves it.

This album has every emotion, tempo, beat, chord you would desire.

If you like ANY type of electronic music this album is the bridge between them. From breakbeat, to trance, to progressive, to pop. One of the best finds!!!

I played Flaming June at my wedding because it is, well, breathtakingly beautiful. In soundscapes that sound out the world's best hopes despite its worst flaws, BT has built a soundtrack for the best days of my life. For this I thank him and his efforts.

I only hope his music means as much to him as it does to me.