Spirit

Caroline Lavelle | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 5, 1995)
• Original Release Date: September 5, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Discovery / Wea
• ASIN: B000003MWB
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #184,453 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Turning Ground

2. Moorlough Shore

3. Dream of Picasso

4. Forget the Few

5. Lagan Love

6. A Case of You

7. Waiting for Rain

8. Desire

9. The Island

10. Sleep Now

11. Sheherazade

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my albums of the decade..., November 8, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spirit (Audio CD)

It's incredible to me that fewer people know about Caroline Lavelle. This album is breath-taking. Sensous, hypnotic, cry-making beautiful. The combination of her lyrical, folk-like melodies underpinned by her whispering cello, and a driving electonica bass groove is incredibly powerful. The sound is distinctive of the brilliant electronica producer, William Orbit, (he made Madonna's outstanding Ray of Light and much else.)

I think Spirit was ahead of its time when released... will have sounded a little strange to folk music lovers and too melodic/sweet for the edgier trip-hop set... but will ultimately be recognised as very special indeed.

A follow up album, please Caroline!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I adore this album..., May 20, 2002

By 

Avalon Daughter (I wish I was in Glastonbury) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spirit (Audio CD)

I'll admit I knew nothing about Caroline Lavelle until a friend gave me her album. He said he thought I might like her because of my musical choices in the past -- wow, was he right.

First off, her singing is nothing like Loreena McKennitt. That's not bad, but makes her different. She has a sultry rich husky voice compared to Loreena's sweet melodic singing. Caroline's singing is in-your-face with deep notes and every breath she takes can be heard.

As for her music she is an incredibly talented musician. All of her songs vary in types from native influenced, to celtic inspired to down right sultry. Check out "DESIRE" -- a song I plan to use at my wedding. WOW what a gorgeous torch song! "A Case of You" based on Mitchell's original release is as good as the original, if not better. She takes the song out of the rafters and drops it down an octave in order to let you sing along, in my opinion.

I never tire of this album. She is very unique and very likeable as well as friendly. I had friends who met her at her concert and said she was very nice to them. Also, I wrote to her website to ask for lyrics and she personally sent them to me. A musician who cares about her fans! Plus a talented one! I hope she continues to keep giving out good music. I'd be more than happ to buy it from her.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Serene and intimate., January 14, 2002

By 

Lord Chimp (Monkey World) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spirit (Audio CD)

I remember browsing my local music store one day and this album caught my eye. I liked the autumn milieu and the colors on the cover artwork. I also recognized the name Caroline Lavelle from somewhere. Weeks later, when flipping through my Loreena McKennitt collection, I saw Caroline Lavelle in the booklet for Live in Paris & Toronto. She played cello in McKennitt's live band. Thinking anyone who played with McKennitt had to be good, I picked up this album. That's a true story. Really.

Well, it's like nothing Loreena McKennitt ever did. There is a bit of a Celtic quality to some of the melodies, but I'm actually reminded a bit more of Enya. However, Lavelle's music is "darker," and more somber (as opposed to the "bright" ambience of Enya). The arrangements on this CD is very quiet and subtle. Producer William Orbit creates layers of smooth electronic-tinged music, almost in a "new age" sort of way. Some tracks have too much bass, but he does a good job most of the time, allowing Lavelle's voice to be the main instrument, supplemented by electronics but not immersed by them. I love her voice...very sensual and sexy, deep and pristine. "A Case of You" is hot stuff, leaving me in need of a cold shower. Lavelle also plays some beautiful cello pieces, like the murmuring solo at the beginning of "Moorlough Shore." There is also a lot more "real" instrumentation, like pianos, pipes, and guitars.

Songs are all pretty slow and mellow, but different songs still entail different moods, from gentle ("Turning Ground") to feisty ("Dream of Picasso"). If this CD were edible, I'd put it in a sandwich and eat it.