Customer Reviews

Semantic Spaces

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Delerium completely changed their sound with this record. Bill Leeb and Rhys Fulber combined pure synth hooks, slow moving basslines, and great chant samples to create amazingly sensual, trancey ethereal music. Two songs have lyric vocals, Flowers Become Screens and Incantation. Flowers Become Screens is arguably one of the best dance-pop songs of the 90's. Unfortunately, when the album was released, Nettwerk Records was short on cash and didn't have the resources to promote the album as much as its follow-up, the equally good, but more vocal, Karma. The song has simple drum and bass lines, and amazing vocals from the wide-ranged Kristy Thirsk, formerly of Rose Chronicles. Incantation is more of the same. Both are great tracks. The non-vocal songs are pure sonic ectasy. VERY complex layered tracks with a lot going on - multi-dimensional, for sure.

The Gregorian Chants in THIS album were sampled. Enigma was NOT sampled on this record, contrary to the claims of a previous reviewer. There are some similar hooks and feels, but Enigma somewhat defined this genre, but Delerium CLEARLY one-ups the entire field with this record. Enigma, by comparison (even MCMXC a.d.), is too poppy, too commercial, too forced. This is a purely good record based on the talents of the authors.

(BTW: Karma has fewer samples; they rented out a church in Vancouver and had real authentic monks sing their chants!)

If you'd like an in-depth song-by-song review, please check out the official web page at http://www.delerium.com - I have my full review posted in the discography.

But, in summary, if you like Enigma or Deep Forest, you will LOVE this album.

PS: If you like this album and/or Karma, I HIGHLY recommend Intermix's Future Primitives, which is a side-project of Leeb/Fulber (the same guys as Delerium) and recorded at the same time as Semantic Spaces, and basically could've been another Delerium album. I also highly recommend the upcoming Conjure One album, the new project by Rhys Fulber solo.

Rick

Semantic Spaces is best describes as the 'rebirth of Delerium' for it is a new awakening from their eerie darker days. And while the album starts out rather cold and emotionless it soon escalates to some deep electronic bass lines with (for the first time ever) soaring vocals by female singer Kristy Thirsk on "Flowers Become Screens". Then comes "Metaphor" with its ancient tribal chantings amidst synthy-electronic beats and mysterious female voices that sound a lot like something you'd find on their Future Primitives side-project by Intermix. "Consensual Worlds" probably comes the closest to their older sound with a droning undervoice that drags through some downright creepy sound effects while "Incantation" is probably their most upbeat song with funky trance beats accompanied, once again, by Kristy Thirsk, who sings a lot more often on their next album, Karma. And despite the fact that Delerium samples from both Enigma and Leftfield, I find it all the more interesting to listen to with "Resurrection" being my favorite.

This (along with Karma and Poem) are highly recommended to trance and new age fans alike, so stop reading this and buy it already! You won't be disappointed, I promise.

First "new wave" Delerium CD - this is also the first Delerium cd with a vocalist. And the results are amazing. "Flowers Become Screens" is HANDS DOWN my favorite Delerium song, because of that amazing synth opening (shouldn't say opening really, comes in about 3 minutes into the song, buts its more of an opening on the single. Kristy Thirsk has a voice that belongs with the angels, as she prooves again in "Karma." This album is comparitively light, when looked at to Euprhoric or Spiritual Archives, which is a tad of a turn off, but its still a great album. Definately recomend Track # 1 - its there all time best, "Flowers Become Screens." You also arne't gonna wanna miss the hipnotic chants of the children on "Metaphor." Thrisk sings again on the highly recomendable "Incantation" which will also blow you away, even though its a tad to "popish" for moi. The singing in "Metamorphis" (although it lacks words) will nock you over also. "Flatlands" will make you feel good, and "Sensorium" provides some releif for fans of like myself of Delerium's darker days.

This is a sine qua non for anyone's music collection. On comparisons to Enigma, I'd say Enigma are definitely the epigone in the standings. Newer Delerium is not as good since Rhys moved to a more commercial production style but this is splendid -their best release combining the sonic architecture of previous albums with the pleasant sensibilities of the newer albums. Semantic Spaces is one of the best produced sonic experiences I've found. It provides a complete healing journey into the multiverse and definitely tops Posford and others for psychedelic soundspaces. With a collection over 5000 CDs strong, this album easily makes it to a desert island 10-pack.

This is one of the greatest musical acheivements by any musical artist, ever. Yes, it is that good. This cd is mesmarizingly relaxing to listen to, brimming from the first to last track with absolute brilliance. This is pure ear candy. Mellow and relaxing with NONE of the boredom factor that a lot of mellow music has. This is a masterpiece that NO Electronica collection is complete without. I can't possibly say enough good things about this album or do it justice with the mere English language. This is one of the best investments I have ever made -in music or anything else for that matter. Some of Delerium's absolute best work.

This is a review for fans of OLD Delerium: I wanted to hate this album. I came to Delerium because I am a HUGE Frontline Assembly fan. I picked up the first several Delerium CDs and loved them. It was like Tangerine Dream for people with darker tendencies. One day a friend gave me a copy of "Poem". My first thought on hearing it was "What happened? Did Rhys and Bill go on Prozac?" It was so pretty and happy, that I wanted nothing to do with it. I wanted the dark/eerie Delerium back. I decided then that I did not like the "singing era" of Delerium's work.

Then, a few weeks ago I saw them live. I became converted, and really began to enjoy their singing material. Though, I knew just because it sounded good in an energetic live setting, that didn't mean that I would like it on CD. I finally broke down, and picked up a copy of "Semantic Spaces". This is definitely the transition album. It only has two songs with lyrics, and one of those is "Flowers Become Screens", which is very hard to resist. Kristy Thirsk has a wonderful voice with a powerful range, and carries the song well. The instrumentals are not the expansive landscaped of the previous albums. They're a bit more poppy, but I was able to get into them.

At the end of the day, if you're a fan of the old Delerium and Frontline Assembly, and have been hesitant to get into the newer and prettier material, this is definitely a safe place to start. I can't stop listening to it. I'm hooked.

I was first introduced to Delirium by my boyfriend (now husband) with Semantic Spaces and was blown away. He latter introduced me to the `old school' Delirium (which I absolutely loved) and some of the newer Delirium after Semantic Spaces (which I am not a huge fan of). In my opinion, no previous or following Delirium album is able to match this one. This is the best.

I love this album because it incorporates a melancholy tone, yet it's sexy and strong at the same time. The album takes you on a journey from the start to finish, meshing one song into another. It just all flows really well, not to mention the vocals are unique and captivating. I know people of all walks of life who have enjoyed this album when I played it for them; from the depressed gothic girl to the chipper sports fanatic. It's not as dark, hard and depressing as the `old school' stuff, yet not as mainstream as the newer stuff. It's a happy medium in my opinion, not too dark, not too poppy.

and give this album its correct rating. It'd merit 3 and a half stars if the option was there but 4 is pushing it. The biggest weakness is its lack of originality. I don't mind emulating others if I enjoy that formula but it's easy to see what my heroes, the Front Line Assembly / Synaesthesia / etc. masterminds were up to here. Back in 1994 when this album came out, that "tribal world" sound was hip due in part to Deep Forest. Delerium clearly came into the studio attempting to combine the Gregorian chant/beat made so famous by Enigma in 1990 and the then "in" Deep Forest sound. They expected "Semantic Spaces" to be bigger than Enigma, but where's the uniqueness?

At the same time, this Delerium release is better than most imitators and if this is your type of music you won't be dissapointed. There is plenty of that good old FLA synthesizer sound present and at 77 minutes-plus you won't feel cheated.

Can we say "Flowers Become Screens"? I mean, that probably is like, the perfect pop song... it's just dark enough, just danceable enough, just enough to sing along to, just uplifting enough, just enough emotion without being cheesy, just subtly intelligent. Plus we get the famous Leeb basslines without anything being held back! Delerium presents a thick veil of worldly influences mixed with some techno / drum'n'bass sounds and even orchestral elements melted in. If this record floats your boat, check out Karma, the another great Delerium record... in fact, check out the Spiritual Archives... and be on the lookout for new Delerium in mid-2000

If you are into Poem, Chimera, Karma, please don't get this album. Better yet, get it. That way you can hear what Delerium used to be and should be. Euphoric, Spheres II and Morpheus are pretty decent too. I don't have any Delerium in my stash anymore except for this one, however. This one stands the test of time and fads. My fav's are Flowers Become Screens, Flatlands and Sensorium. How Delerium went from this to what it is now, I will never understand.