Space Lullabies & Other Fantas

Ekova | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 30, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Six Degrees
• ASIN: B000056OF7
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #32,458 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Steel Bird

2. How Sweet Mal

3. Aurora's Flight

4. Moon Beseeched

5. In the Kitchen

6. Siip Siie

7. Son Sourrit Pale

8. Interlude

9. The Chase

10. A Soul's Delight

11. Idem Soit Done

12. The Storm

13. Cruel Sister

14. In the Garden

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Even given the trend of cultural crossover in music, Ekova inhabit a world uniquely all their own. Their second full release (following 1998's Heaven's Dust and 1999's remix compilation Soft Breeze & Tsunami Breaks) furthers Ekova's commitment to a pulsing, gently swaying mélange of exotic instrumentation and captivating vocals. What emerges is a new sort of global pop music, blending past with present, acoustic with electric; seldom have drones sounded so lively and a subtle undercurrent of electronic programming so organic. Vocalist-cellist Dierdre Dubois emotes from a deep well of her own digging, occasionally in English, frequently in a language of her own invention, and in who knows what other tongues? Iranian percussionist Arach Khalatbari and Algerian oud (Arabic lute) and guitar player Mehdi Haddab provide a dense, infinitely flexible bed for Dubois's incredible vocal flights of fancy. Ekova unquestionably evoke the ghost of Dead Can Dance at times, especially on numbers like the upbeat "Siip Siie," the a cappella "In the Garden," and "A Soul's Delight," which weds a text by Rumi to a hypnotic drone with striking chanted vocals by both Khalatbari and Dubois. But they are much more lively and suffused with a sly, intelligent mischief than the occasionally somber D.C.D. "The Chase" is incredibly fast without being frantic, an interstellar gypsy race from past to present; "The Storm" is as mesmerizing as the sea itself; and "Cruel Sister," a traditional English ballad covered by folk-rock pioneers Pentangle, is a modern epic that turns Ekova's rolling flow of sound into a wide-eyed torrent. Ekova's music is wonderfully full of life and perfectly accessible, and Space Lullabies should easily find a home with both armchair travelers of world beat and those at the center of the international dance floor. --Carl Hanni

Billboard

"Ekova creates a dream world, the folk music of a techno-global future."

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Soul's Delight, April 27, 2002

By 

Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Space Lullabies & Other Fantas (Audio CD)

Ekova's latest album (which really isn't all that new) is truly a pleasurable delight to the soul. With very interesting vocals by American singer Dierdre DuBois, Iranian percussionist Arach Khalatbari and Algerian guitar/lute player Mehdi Haddab, it is already clear to see just how diversified this fusioned modern/traditional world band really is. Their sound is actually very complicated to describe only because of its eclectic range. Never before have I enjoyed an international album (along with Afro Celt Sound System's Vol.3: Further In Time) as much as this. I think that I played this album at least 7 times through the first day of purchase. The whole merging of different cultural influences just really appeals to me and Ekova certainly succeeds in igniting my interests. From start to finish, Space Lullabies and Other Fantasmagore keeps you taut with anticipation of each approaching song. And if any of that sounds far-fetched or exaggerated than think again. You just know that you've got something special when you get all excited over a record. Musical highs just don't happen as often as they used to and Ekova is a true delight to the senses. They have already become one of my favorite groups and I plan on buying their other records very soon. They cram everything from organic dance beats to modern groove swirls with ancient instruments (lute, oud, electronic drum samples, ect, ect, ect...) with even some rock thrown in the mix (Idem Soit Done: 3:55); not to mention her sometimes inventive, made-up language). She does sing English once in a while but it's often hard to understand what tongue she's speaking at what given time. None of that really matters, however, for words will mean very little as you get swept away by the power of Dierdre's compelling vocals. Ekova even reworks Pentangle's "Cruel Sister" (10:19) with electronic programming. And alongside this talented trio of muscisians is producer Carmen Rizzo whose credits also include Prince, Seal, and Alanis Morissette.

Even though I enjoy every blasted song here I thoroughly enjoy the short and funky "In The Kitchen" which actually contains real utensils such as pots and pans with sensual English lyrics through and through. My favorite song, however, would have to be "Aurora's Flight" (4:39) with its gently rocking North African percussion and "The Storm" with its tribal dance sequence.

From the first song, "Steel Bird" (3:45), to the last more traditional song, "In The Garden" (4:19), this is one World Dance album you can't and must not live without. Ekova's sound is adventurous and unpredictable so stop reading this and buy it already!

Highly recommended.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars wild and exotic, September 21, 2001

By 

M. H. Bayliss "book queen" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Space Lullabies & Other Fantas (Audio CD)

Ekova's Heaven's Dust was one of my favorite CD's. This one is great in its own way. The music is hypnotic and shares many of the dreamy qualities of the first CD but with a more electronic feel. I'm an acoustic nut, so in some ways I thought the first CD was better, but this one is growing on me. It's a bit less accessible upon first listen, but once you really listen for a while, you'll love it if you like this kind of music. Unlike the first album, it doesn't have one great hit (like Starlight in Daarden), but many interesting and exotic songs. I should add that the cover art and design are beautiful and make me want to open and hold this CD. Ekova is certainly one of the most exciting group for this kind of exotic and wild sounding music!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it, Love it, Love it, May 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Space Lullabies & Other Fantas (Audio CD)

Okay, after reading all the reviews, I have to say that I love this cd. I haven't heard "Heaven's Dust" yet so I have nothing to compare this cd with. Although I loved "Starlight in Daden". This is filled with slamming beats and Diedre Dubois' voice is phenomenal. I especially like the way her voice makes you think you're listening to a remix of some traditional Indian song... Though it sounds like her words don't make any sense they capture me still...Even though I didn't like all the tracks on the cd, I think 8 out of 14 songs gives it a thumbs up!!! Having bought this cd, maybe I will check out "Heaven's Dust"...