Storm [Limited Edition, Import]

Vanessa Mae, A. B. C. Whipple | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 19, 1999)
• Original Release Date: February 2, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Limited Edition, Import
• Label: EMI Import
• ASIN: B00008G3PN
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,404,247 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Summer Haze

2. Storm

3. Retro

4. Bach Street Prelude

5. Leyenda

6. (I) Can, Can (You?)

7. Happy Valley

8. A Poet's Quest (For a Distant Paradise)

9. Embrasse Moi (You Fly Me Up)

10. Aurora

11. Im a Doun

12. I Feel Love

13. Hocus Pocus

14. The Blessed Spirits

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still experimenting, February 19, 2001

By 

"michaeleve" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Storm (Audio CD)

Less techno and more exploratory than 'The Violin Player' - her previous non classical album. Here Vanessa Mae get's into all sorts of sounds, moods and feelings. Some of the influences are Chinese 'Happy Valley', Latin 'Leyenda', French 'Embrasse Moi' and even one than conjured up, for me anyway, a western saloon with dancing girls - '(I) Can Can (you)' There are adaptations of classical songs 'Bach Street Prelude', Scotish Poetry 'Doun', a hymn 'The Blessed Spirits' and a monster disco hit from the '70's - Donna Summer's 'I Feel Love'. Yep, I think that qualifies this album as experimental, but more importantly - does it sound good? Fortunately it does. I say fortunately because with all the various mixes, it could have ended up sounding like a cacophany rather than anything symphonic. As it is there is one track that is a little jarring - 'Retro'. The best pieces for me are the title track 'Storm' - lovely sythesized thunder, 'Leyenda', 'Aurora''I Feel Love' and 'Doun', which contrary to what the CD sleeve says - is not a Robbie Burns poem.

Vanessa Mae certainly expanded her musical horizons on this album but unlike 'Violin Player' which floored me from the start, this one only grew on me. It took a few listenings.

26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Reinventing Classics Into Her Own., December 31, 1999

By 

Rich (California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Storm (Audio CD)

Here is an exciting, well made pop album that borrows from original work, yet pays the listener back with interest. If you are familiar with Vivaldi's renowned work, "The Four Seasons," then recognition of the first 2 tracks will be immediate.

The album introduces itself with "Haze," which opens curiously with the earthy, natural sounds of church bells and chirping birds which are soon contrasted by an otherworldly, digitized sound image to which Salvador Dali could have painted. Some 40 seconds further in and Vivaldi's violin score (first mvt. of "Summer") delightfully makes its cameo appearance, but is given an undetermined performance by Vanessa-Mae. Nevertheless, "Haze," (track 1) does its job well, foreshadowing the powerful techno-acoustic "Storm;" the name of the album, but also track two.

For this piece, Vivaldi's third movement of "Summer" is the fundamental source for the material. And here, "Storm," has the high-voltage and rhythm to really blow your doors off! Indeed the sound effects testify to this! "Storm" is dressed up in a digital drama that is quite theatrical--exciting! My only want was to hear more bravura from Mae's violin so as to match her bold, techno-sonic support. However, this isn't the only successfully spliced classical/techno jam on this record.

There is another great track (4), from this hodgepodge--the "Bach St. Prelude." Bach's original Partita in E generously sources the track and amiably yields to donning the musical costume for the occasion. It begins chimerically with cartoon-like voices and sounds that set up the ensuing, bright, joyous violin and pulsing dance beat. Here, the characterful accompaniment frolics alongside Bach's merry melody and eventually takes his masterly composition for a free piggyback ride...and the authoritative Partita musically obliges. All this is done to the very height of playfulness. No other item on this CD offers such mirth! (With some exception of track 6, the "Can Can.")

Certain other items here are born of other originals; from disco (I Feel Love), Scottish folk music (I'm A Doun), and 70's rock (Hocus Pocus). Other tracks apparently are more original efforts expressing new age, jazz, dance and some ethnic elements.

With all of these pieces, expect studio effects and other pleasantly odd ornamentations to effect mood, ranging from cyannotype moonscapes, calls of the wild, libidinal rhythms, thunder clap, voice effects, cosmic clashes, windy passes, ethereal vocals, distant echoes, and time-stopping indescribables. All this adds nicely to the color palette, bringing character to the album as a whole.

There is some variance of quality between these items but none should offend. For instance, "Hocus Pocus," on this album is not as humane as the 70's original and manages only a fair amount of appeal from its techno permutations. Also, on "Leyenda," there is a native sounding holler that seems very cliche, though the rest of the vocals are to good effect.

As for the sound, the EMI engineers deserve some credit for packing the CD with full-spectrum sound; bright details, solid midrange and a transparent base. Just occasionally is there a muddy layer. Only high-fidelity equipment (I use Sony's MDR V-6 headphones.) will be totally honest in bringing out all the sonic dramatics.

If you enjoy many types of music, this album becomes more appreciable with its many colorful moods and digital spinnings across the variety of musical genres.

If it is sheer listening pleasure you're after, this CD is sure to entertain and stimulate the imagination. And having virtually no academics involved, the listening is an easy affair. Yet, due to all the sonic histrionics, this is not an ideal collection for background music. However, if you are cleaning house as you are listening, don't be surprised when you fling the feather-duster and start dancing up an outrageous "storm" all your own! Fun. Heartily recommended.

--RL869

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A good follow-up to her previous "pop" recording., July 28, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Storm (Audio CD)

I couldn't wait to hear more of Vanessa-Mae's unique musical interpretations since "The Violin Player." Unfortunately, "Storm" falls a bit short due to its lack of consistency of styles throughout the album. The "remakes" like Storm, (I) Can, Can (You?), and I Feel Love are hip and refreshing interpretations. The album is also worth buying for I'm a Doun, a haunting track also found on "The Classical Album."

"Storm" has a harder rock edge than "The Violin Player," which was more jazz fusion. I would have preferred to hear more innovative violin playing than the vocal showcasing and style inconsistencies. There were a few disappointing tracks that sounded too much like mainstream rock insofar that I was asking myself, "When is the violin going to come in." I wasn't sure of the theme this album was trying to convey, but it is a good hodgepodge of tunes. It's definitely a welcome addition to my CD coll! ection.

If you like this kind of music, you may want to check out "Bachbusters" and "Beethoven or Bust" by Don Dorsey. Also, "Dancing With the Lion" by Andreas Vollenweider has some neat jazzy-new age tracks.

I look forward to Vanessa-Mae's next "pop" album!