Customer Reviews

Solace

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

When I bought this CD by Mandalay (aka, Saul Freeman and Nicola Hitchcock) I didn't like it. I was listening to it thinking that I was gonna have to sell it but after a few more listens it started sinking in. That's why I never try to sell a CD until I've heard it at least 5 times through - just to make sure. Too many of my favorite CDs are the ones that I had detested only to later prize and cherish. I don't think that this is gonna be one of them but it's a hell of a lot better than initially assumed.

I was taking a huge chance at buying this for I'm not particularly keen on buying something based on 30 second samples but the song "Beautiful" is what had drawn me in. After listening to it on a supposedly hand-picked Madonna radio station I knew that I had to have it. That song is simply . . . well . . . Beautiful with the smooth electronics and exotic trumpet playing. I have to say, though, that "This Life" is the best song on Mandalay's SOLACE album. It reminds me of songs like "Push" on Olive's TRICKLE album. It's sort of like symphonic electronica with strings and melodic tempos. "Flowers Bloom", however, reminds me (mainly in the beginning) of Madonna's "Bedtime Story". Another personal favorite is "Like Her" and "I Don't Want The Night To End" which has a darker feel to it that's sensual and mysterious.

This album is sort of a cross between soft electronica, chill-out and trip-hop. My only complaint is how Nicola Hitchcock (whom provides the spine-tingling vocals) sings in such a breathy voice that's often trembling - almost as if she's afraid to break loose. I suppose that that was the effect she was trying to convey but I think that she should sing more fully on their next release (assuming that they release something else). Don't get me wrong, though, the soft singing is effective, it just feels as though she is singing below her potential. She really does have a relaxing voice, though...

One thing I really like about the US release is the extra bonus CD filled with several remixes. The second CD is a mixed-bag of good AND bad remixes but it's still a nice addition. None of them are as good as the originals but some are quite enjoyable... (in a mediocre sort of way).

Mandalay's "Solace" is the sort of album that takes awhile to sink into your consciousness -- it's ethereal, bittersweet and full of Nicola Hitchcock's sweetly airy vocals. While the bonus remix disc is so-so, with some dud remixes, the songs are a slice of trip-hop heaven.

The tone is set with the trip-hop/piano ballad, "Not Seventeen," a wistful ballad that slips into the slightly trippier breakup song "Like Her." Smooth, soft soundscapes are the base of all the songs -- almost all ballads, with a few bouncier trip-hop songs mixed in there. Among the following songs are the smooth "Beautiful" (most recently covered by Sarah Brightman), the poppy "It's Enough Now," wispy "Enough Love," and the eerie, spacey "Flowers Bloom."

The second disc is something of a disappointment. Some of the songs don't fare so well when covered with trippy beats, like "Beautiful (12'' Canny Mix)." It completely disrupts the sweetness of the song to have sharp percussion and windy synths. The horn-and-strings of "This Life" and sweet "Deep Love" are drowned in harsh, discoish rhythms. But there are some solid remixes, like the dreamy "Beautiful (Lenny's Sunset Mix)" and music-box melody of "Deep Love (Nitin Sawhney Remix)."

There's something very soothing and sweet about Mandalay. The trancey trip-hop mixes mellow and moody, with the occasional dose of organic instrumentation to keep it from getting dull. The first disc isn't the sort of thing you dance to, but rather drowse to on an autumn evening. The second... well, you can dance to it, but it lacks sweetness.

The heavier beats of many remixes are a problem -- they cover up the delicate melodies in bleeps and blips. But in the original and softer mixes, the music is outstanding. There are hints of horn, piano, church bells and violins mixed in, as well as some windy synth that underscores them. It helps ground the trippy music.

Nicola Hitchcock has a lovely voice. It's sweet, cool and pure as stream water. An odd thing about it is that her voice is almost always trembling, as if she's on the verge of crying. Odd, but somehow endearing. In a few songs, she sounds stronger and more assured ("Flowers Bloom" is a good example). The lyrics are simple and almost childlike; in Hitchcock's voice, they sound very heartfelt.

Mandalay's music is as beautiful and light as a glass butterfly, and "Solace" is a solid collection of songs and remixes. Although the remix disc is not so good, the original songs are excellent.

As a long time fan of EBTG and Tracy Thorn, I loved her recordings with Massive Attack, and one day, out of the blue, good ol' Amazon sent me the usual mail saying you have bought material by ***, try Mandalay's Solace.

Well, why not?! So with my next book order, I added Solace to the list. The unremarkable album cover looks like a PowerPoint background, but inside, it's great.

"Beautiful", is probably the top track on the album, with 3 variations, and the 12" Canny mix is my favourite. Some of the material reminded me of early Propaganda, but infinitely smoother. I prefer Mandaly to Portishead, who were always a little weak with their vocals, and after listening to them after Solace, that opinion is confirmed. The material blends well, giving the impression of a single hour long song. But it is the remixes on the bonus CD that make this version so good. The now familiar sound of a soft girl's harmonising voice over a throbbing beat is so good, it will be hard to find better material.

And thanks to the Amazon team for introducing this to me - you have good taste!

If you havent heard Mandalay already, you are missing quuite a bit here. From their UK debut Empathy in 1998 to their second release Instinct in 2000, this Manchester duo can do no wrong with ambient melodies and a hauntingly beautiful vocal.

This is the 2-CD set that captures the best of those 2 CDs into one regular CD and another remixed for the US market. Though unfortunately, they havent made much headway in the mainstream market, they have certainly gained a cult following. Songs like Not 17, Beautiful and Deep Love feature a dreamy and trip-hopp-ish setting matched by a irresistable vocal from Nicola. Her vocal is a heavy contrast to the unique vocals of Lou from Lamb, which I strongly recommend too.


The brilliance of this duo consistently shines through song after song with perfect seamlessness.

The excellent deal here must be the second CD of remixes culled from the CD single releases in the UK that were unavailable to the US. 11 smashing remixes, and seriously none of them were bad. Many of these remixes are given a new touch with finesse and kick, mostly within 4-6 minutes, and is easy on your ears without too much repetition. Even Victor Calderone shows better promise here than usual. The first 5-6 remixes are best.

Pretty good deal. You'll get the original wonder as well as the faster reworks.

Mandalay manages to make a cd which lasts over an hour and make it sound as if it is just one song. They all flow very well into each other, with the exception of song number eleven, "Kissing the Day." That song is much more upbeat than the others, and is just as good as the rest of the cd. I'm not sure if all of songs sounding alike is good or not. Some may call it redundant, but if that is true, then it truly is repetitive beauty. I haven't listened to the second cd which comes with this, which is all remixes. But what I have heard is magnificent. Nicola Hitchcock's singing is very lovely. Although she wasn't made with the ability to change her pitch very much, she is able to use her constant, sultry voice in such a way that it gives one chills. Whenever the music stops for a very short while during my favorite song on the album, "Insensible," and it's just her voicing entering your ears, it is very magnificent. And the music is just as important to Mandalay as Hitchcock's voice. This would be an album for people to dance to, easily. "Solace" is one for the summer, or those drives home at night. It's something to listen to when you need your nerves calmed. Truly a masterpiece.

One night I was sitting at home, surfing the net. I went to Amazon.com and typed in "Portishead" and scrolled to the bottom of the page, to see related artists. I clicked on Mandalay and first listened to "Not Seventeen". I hadn't a clue what I was in store for. Everything about the song was so incredible and profound I wanted to cry and laugh at the same time. I clicked on the next track, and the next, and the one after that, and each track was angelic. If you're a Portishead fan, a Bjork fan, a Sarah Mclachlan fan, and/or a Morcheeba fan, and you're looking for something tastefully different, yet at the same time similar to those artists, please give Mandalay a listen. I can pretty much guarantee you'll go buy the album.

i actually picked up this cd searching for Portishead songs. Mandalay's top selling album luckily fell into my lap soon after tring to find what album this strange psuedo-portishead knock off was from. I love this compilation with extreme passion and it qualifies indefinitely as my night driving cd. Unfortunately Saul and Nicola split apart and their duet ceased to exist shortly after i purchased their album. There is definitely a reason to why Madonna would qualify this as her favorite band. All of the tracks have a chilling mellow quality to them, even such that you become very attached emotionally. My fav. is the end track"I dont want the night to end". It qualifies in my opinion as the "you are a spy and driving with the hottest girl in the universe". I know that its a strange analogy, yet when you listen to the song you'll know exactly what i mean, especially when you really feel the ethereal quality of nicola's voice.

When first listening to this album, being new to Mandalay, I was too distracted by the singing style of the lead singer Nichola Hitchcock. Her voice has a very "opera" style flutter to it, and frankly it was a little too different for me. I still think that she overdoes it a little on certain songs, which makes it hard to understand the lyrics. "Like Her", for example, is a gorgeous song but the lyrics get muddled in the over-vocalization. I think alot of singers tend to do this thinking that they are personalizing a song which I think often times belittles the actual track more often than not. YET, the more I listened to this album the more entranced by it I was. Yes... It grew on me.
All the songs on this album are beautifully crafted and the lyrics are delicate yet passionate. Saul Freeman is nothing short of a genius. The compostions and layering are wonderfully complex and graceful. Listening to to "Solace" is like a modern, romantic lullaby for adults. My favorite songs are definatley "Deep love" and "Beautiful". I recommend this album to anyone who is into groups like, Frou Frou or Flunk.

This is an absolutely gorgeous sounding, poignent CD. Although understated in every techinial facet, its transcendent deliverance is dramatic and powerful. Mandalay seems to have found a way to filter out all that is superfluous to embrace only the essence of soul, of emotion, of spirit. Solace is one of those albums that simply and consistently works from the first to last track in making people feel; Isn't feeling what defines our lives? This is a rare album indeed: one that is utterly enjoyable form start to finish without resorting to commercialized, over-produced sounds.

The further you get into this cd it reaks creativity and sophisticated production. If you like Janet Jackson's slower materialon (VelveT Rope) and Madonna's (Bed time stories) you will love this. Nicola Hitchcock and Saul Freeman lay down some of the most computerized hightech production I have ever seen."This Life and "It's enough Now" and "Flowers Bloom" are amazing futuristic sounding tracks. "Flowers Bloom" is a "Space cruising voyage" with a computerized Timbaland/Drum N Bass sound! "This Life" is just a beautiful song (Perfect production heavy bass with electric horn effects !)This is a album for people who know and appreaciate complex and real music. This is a very artistic and futuristic cd. I strongly suggest getting "Empathy and Instinct" in addition. Warning: The first 4 sound samples doesn't explain this entire cd. This cd serves as a U.S compilation of there 2 U.K Albums.

Arish