Customer Reviews

Le Spa Sonique

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As written by my reviewer Claire for Raves.com/Djfix.com... "I chose to review "Jens Gad Presents Le Spa Sonique" out of a box of CDs for what I must admit is a silly reason: the purple flowers on the cover. There was just something about them that said "open me now" and I'm glad I did. Jens Gad is from Enigma and Achillea, and this is his artist album of 11 tracks, all serene sensual songs that avoid slipping into any new age hokey-ness, thanks to the propelling rhythms of drums, electric guitar, piano, and electronic elements. "El Momento" features sexy Spanish spoken word, and "Cape Blanc" swells with operatic soprano meandering among the piano and bass. I do wish there were a few more tracks with more vocals like those (others do have samples mixed in) as I would have appreciated the variety they would have added, one reason I'm docking this overall fantastic release half a star, the other being every so often I found a sound (such as moaning) to be annoying rather than soothing, so therefore out of place. But really that's a personal taste thing, not a reflection on the high quality of the production, which results in such gems as the lovely reverberations in "The Orbiting Suns" and the nice touch of the wave sounds between tracks. A few pretty cool notes: some of the proceeds of this release go The Rainforest Action Network; the CD sleeve is printed on recycled paper with soy ink (vs. oil based ink, better for the environment, who knew); and most importantly: the album was recorded, mixed and mastered on the magical isle of Ibiza, Spain, which I'm sure lends some of is mystical energy to the music you hear, and the warm feeling you'll get when you play this CD where ever you are."

Jens Gad's signature syncopation, with his lyrics and guest voices, such as Luisa Fernandez' in track two El Momento, nicely introduce this album. Along with track three, Navajo, they quickly took me to a gently grooving electronic lounge that lulled me into a state of relaxation and dreaminess.

Track four, The Orbiting Suns, lent a spacey refrain with a celestial background chorus, punctuated by pure single bell notes. My favorite track is track six, Silver Sands, but also Les Eaux Verts reminded me of endless summer evenings walking the beach surf edges. Cape Blanc extols Gad's singing guitar and Helene Horlich's versatile sweetness. I also liked track number ten, The Miracle of Illusion, with its point taken, attempt to dispel any illusions about Illusions with the clapping of hands, but happily, the illusion lives on.

Aureole perfectly completes this album of easy going beats meets keyboard chill that gracefully brings us back to that intimate and explorative nature of our selves. I was soothed. You will be too. Perfect for those later hours to help wind down. Highly Recommended.

If "Les Eaus Verts" doesn't reduce you to a state of relaxed bliss, you might want to get your brain scanned for a pinched nerve.

'Le Spa Sonique' is Jens Gad's second solo album released earlier this year. Having been the co-producer of Enigma with Michel Cretu for a number of years, he has now embarked on a solo career. His first release 'Achillea' was a instrumental success and made his presence known in the electronica and new age scene. His success on his first album was in part for the use of Helene Horlycke a fellow Danish singer. Sequoia Records have entrusted alot of hope and trust in Jens Gad by allowing this album on their label. I did enjoy immensely Achillea. However this album well a bit short of my expectations. Hence I am giving it 3.5/5.

What this album suffers is the 'Cretu' reuse and regurgitating the same sound over and over. In this album, Gad does not experiment but chooses to remain true to what works for him. The result is several songs that sound so similar to each other and it seems as if they are cut from the same track. I won't go individually into each track as every listener will make up his or her own mind. I did enjoy a few songs however 'Navajo', 'The Orbiting Suns' and 'Cape Blanc'.

This album is steeped in a tone of relaxation and this would be good chill-out music after a hard day at work, or when you are doing work at home and need soft transcient music in the background. Fans of current Enigma should enjoy this album very much.

This beautiful and tranquil new release from Jens Gad (ENIGMA/ACHILLEA) is simply superb. Hypnotically gentle rhythms combine with subtle, and intricate electonica instrumentation to create a delicate mezmerizing sounscape of sparce yet richly textured tracks. This music is perfect for so many things, relaxation, socializing, dancing or just for putting on your headphones and drifting away to a place of sublime serenity. If you are a fan of ENIGMA or Gads' other project ACHILLEA with vocalist Helene Horlyck, you are sure to also love Le Spa Sonique. I look forward to heairng mrore music from this amazing artist.

Although Jens Gad "borrows" a couple of Enigma themes on this effort, he gives them a new direction. The entire CD flows like a gentle stream.
In my opinion, this is his best effort minus Cretu to date and I now have
very high expectations for his future releases.

I have always admired the music of Enigma & Michael Cretu along with Jens Gad, and I had two of Jens solo CD's "Achillea" & "Enigmatic Obsession" already in my collection. I happened upon a music critic on the radio who gave this new CD a huge rap, so I immediately acquired a copy. It is a superb collection of chill out sounds, easily the best that Jens has done. From the opening, to the finale it keeps the imagination flowing from soft easy beats to gentle upbeat rhythms. An absolute treasure of a CD, one that you'll want to take with you everywhere and listen to it often.

This is what I call a relaxing album with beautiful music. Track #7 is my all-time favorite. I listen to the cd at work, at home, in my car and anywhere I want to escape.

A lot of music is equated to being similar to Engima which is a selling point or at least a point of attraction to die-hard Enigma fans. This album by one of the artists of Engima is very Enigma-like, enough so to satisfy the Enigma fan, and moreso than the other CD's by Jens Gad. Give the sample selection a listen, and decide for yourself, but I recommend it to all Enigma fans.

Ive had this cd in my wish list for so long befor finally deciding to purchase it. I almost knocked myself in the head for waiting so long upon hearing it. This music creates a soothing, sensual and serene atmosphere. The songs flow into one another, so it may be a disatvantage to shuffle cd or when you want to put it on your ipod.( I simply have it alone as a playlist for ipod). This is a good chill out cd for a casual get together or dinner. If you like blue stone, delirium, enigma ...then you will like this cd. (by the way jen gad is the other guy from enigma)