Customer Reviews

They Died for Beauty

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's a pretty cool Album in general. I like the sexy European twist to it as well.If you want to hear the sample songs you can go to Amazon.fr & listen to few songs in this Album especially the "Bellissimo" which deserves the five star rating!
Reza Badei

San Ilya's "They Died For Beauty" is a seductively languorous listen, filled with sadness and husky vocals. Imagine Portishead on heavy tranquilizers, and you have San Ilya's debut LP. While at times the sleepy tone can make you drift off, blend of jazz, trip-hop and occasionally funk are ingenious and entrancing.

It starts off with the wistfully romantic "Bellissimo," followed by the sultry (and retro) "Quattra Neon" and piano-led ballad "Bliss." A dark, funky feel permeates "Heavenly," while a trip-hop wispiness fills "Soleil Soleil." "Pretty Baby" takes San Ilya into darker, menacing territory with the uncertain-sounding vocals and clashing light-and-dark melodies. But a lighter tone comes back into the last two tracks, rounding off with the dreamy, spacey "Happy and Weak" and powerful title track.

While "They Died for Beauty" is a short listen -- only nine songs long -- San Ilya make their mark by constantly tinkering with their styles. There are moments that are reminiscent of bands like Air and Goldfrapp, but the jazzy and Euro-pop moments keep it fresh-sounding and original.

Piano is the core of many of these songs, backed up by guitar, trumpets, faded percussion and stretches of electronic twizzling. The resulting sound is alternately heavy and sensuous, and light and sweet, and it has a retro flavor that recalls jazz, torch songs, James Bond and the best of 90s trip-hop.

Joanna Swan's deep vocals add to the smoky club atmosphere of the jazzier numbers, but she can sound gentler and sweeter for songs like "Soleil Soleil." Occasionally her vocals get a little melodramatic, her trembly delivery in the title track. But the feeling her voice gives is one of muted sensuality and romanticism. "And I believe in love/I believe in love/Bellisimo - mon amour," she sings wistfully in the first song.

Lush trip-hop, Europop and lounge jazz are mixed together in the beautiful, eclectic debut by San Ilya. Like a more exotic version of Portishead, "They Died For Beauty" is a unique experience.

From where does Ilya hail? Where else but Bristol. Who knows what is in the water there, but 'They Died For Beauty' more than just updates that city's trippy vibes for a new generation --- it sounds more like Ilya scattered the seeds of the first flowering of trip hop across the world, left them for five years then went back to see what had grown. Each song is like a little theatre production that is played out on the sprawling 007 soundstage, drawing together the cinematic threads of John Barry and Jacques Brel, fused with the languorous class of Chet Baker and the murky atmospherics of Portishead and Massive Attack. The results are mesmerizing: 'Bliss' integrates James Bond elements with smoky basement jazz and a sax that honks like a mutant seal, while 'Happy And Weak' sees Mariachis serenading day-trippers before opening their guitar cases to reveal machine guns. The title track sprawls in all the right places while it stirs and comforts at the same time; and you probably have seen or heard about that phenomenal 'Bellissimo' from the seductive Revlon ad. This is one of the releases this year that is truly worth treasuring, and love at first sight never came more intense than this.

"They Died For Beauty", truly is a beauty. This CD is a great mix of electro-lounge, downtempo/trip-hop, dreamy chillout, and hints of Brazil.

The previous reviewers have described the songs pretty well, and I like every one of the songs. So I will only add a comment about the track "Pretty Baby". To me, parts of this song sounds like a remake of Pink Floyds "Hey You". With a great, nu-lounge twist to it. I will defintely be throwing some of these tracks into the mix.

If you like this, you might also checkout the faster paced debut album from Etro Anime, entitled "See The Sound". It reminds me very much of the creativty, and various musical styles that are drawn on to makeup "They Died For Beauty". You might also checkout The Gotan Project's "Revancha Del Tango". It is a little over a year old, but I still can't stop listening to it.

DJ Goop
www.dj-goop.com

First off: Ilya (UK) = San Ilya (USA). From where does Ilya hail? Where else but Bristol. Who knows what is in the water there, but 'They Died For Beauty' more than just updates that city's trippy vibes for a new generation --- it sounds more like Ilya scattered the seeds of the first flowering of trip hop across the world, left them for five years then went back to see what had grown. Each song is like a little theatre production that is played out on the sprawling 007 soundstage, drawing together the cinematic threads of John Barry and Jacques Brel, fused with the languorous class of Chet Baker and the murky atmospherics of Portishead and Massive Attack. The results are mesmerizing: 'Bliss' integrates James Bond elements with smoky basement jazz and a sax that honks like a mutant seal, while 'Happy And Weak' sees Mariachis serenading day-trippers before opening their guitar cases to reveal machine guns. The title track sprawls in all the right places while it stirs and comforts at the same time; and you probably have seen or heard about that phenomenal 'Bellissimo' from the seductive Revlon ad. This is one of the releases this year that is truly worth treasuring, and love at first sight never came more intense than this.

"They Died for Beauty" is full of beautiful songs, and the listener cannot help getting lost in the breathtaking music.
In my opinion, the best songs on this CD are "Bellissimo," "Soleil Soleil," "Happy and Weak," and the title track -- "They Died for Beauty."
Each song flows wonderfully, and if I were to categorize this CD under a genre, I would be at a lost for words. However, I could say it's the kind of music one listens to on the French Riveria while sitting on a balcony overlooking the blue Mediterranean Sea as the sun starts to set.

Ilya's "They Died For Beauty" is a seductively languorous listen, filled with sadness and husky vocals. Imagine Portishead on heavy tranquilizers, and you have San Ilya's debut LP. While at times the sleepy tone can make you drift off, blend of jazz, trip-hop and occasionally funk are ingenious and entrancing.

It starts off with the wistfully romantic "Bellissimo," followed by the sultry (and retro) "Quattra Neon" and piano-led ballad "Bliss." A dark, funky feel permeates "Heavenly," while a trip-hop wispiness fills "Soleil Soleil." "Pretty Baby" takes San Ilya into darker, menacing territory with the uncertain-sounding vocals and clashing light-and-dark melodies. But a lighter tone comes back into the last two tracks, rounding off with the dreamy, spacey "Happy and Weak" and powerful title track.

While "They Died for Beauty" is a short listen -- only nine songs long -- Ilya make their mark by constantly tinkering with their styles. There are moments that are reminiscent of bands like Air and Goldfrapp, but the jazzy and Euro-pop moments keep it fresh-sounding and original.

Piano is the core of many of these songs, backed up by guitar, trumpets, faded percussion and stretches of electronic twizzling. The resulting sound is alternately heavy and sensuous, and light and sweet, and it has a retro flavor that recalls jazz, torch songs, James Bond and the best of 90s trip-hop.

Joanna Swan's deep vocals add to the smoky club atmosphere of the jazzier numbers, but she can sound gentler and sweeter for songs like "Soleil Soleil." Occasionally her vocals get a little melodramatic, her trembly delivery in the title track. But the feeling her voice gives is one of muted sensuality and romanticism. "And I believe in love/I believe in love/Bellisimo - mon amour," she sings wistfully in the first song.

Lush trip-hop, Europop and lounge jazz are mixed together in the beautiful, eclectic debut by Ilya. Like a more exotic version of Portishead, "They Died For Beauty" is a unique experience.

Excellent fusion of jazz, downtempo and sultry vocals. Especially recommended for lovers of downtempo electronica drum and bass music. Great listen for a lazy cool Sunday morning or a cuddle with your loved one!

As I listen to this album, I can't help but think about how it resembles Goldfrapp's Felt Mountain. Both are haunting, and both take something old and create something amazingly fresh.
But if I had to choose, I would choose TDFB. The songs here are more powerful, especially the last track! After getting this one, I just HAD to buy the rest of Ilya's albums so prepare to get addicted.

SAN ILYAs music stands between poetic melancholy and ecstasy.A multilayered blend of lounge jazz trip hop and electropop elements create a rich charming and warm sonic atmosphere full of mystery and passion.SAN ILYA is a british group from BRISTOL with a remarkable harmonic lyrical expression full of warthm and vitality .JOANNAs voice is sweet and mesmerising touching the whole musical subject with refinement and grace .A TOP NOTCH EFFORT .