Customer Reviews

Visions and Dreams

5 star:		(5)
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3 star:		(1)
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I took a lot of time before writing this review in order to let this CD wash over my thoughts. It's a careful tranquil listen....like hearing the ocean in a seashell.... Catherine's approach is multilayered with the subcultures of warm electronica and atmospheric moods, Celtic mysticism (is that real harp? Sounds as good as Maggie Sansone!), and the current trend of worldbeat runs through in waves of delicate melody.

Beatiful.

I like the oneness of this album...as I ussually break down albums by songs I would rather like to think of this as one long everchanging piece of music. The music walks the path of perfection in that it is not so mundane as to bore you but then it is not so discordant as if to overwhelm you. This is what a real pure mood can create!

At once I felt the peace and mystery of groups like Enigma but here without the irony, just the subtly which is sometimes harder to achieve. Some would liken her to Enya, but there is too much going on here to be Enya who has late become predictable yet enjoyable. I myself would call it close to Paoa NewAge, Jean Michel Jarre and his ode to the noble gases.

But no comparrisons are needed.... if you enjoy good instrumentals to take your mind away from troubles.... pick up this CD of trancable odes and relax your body but let your mind work with the compositions. I was very impressed with the album and will look forward for more good things from Catherine Duc.

This is a wonderful CD to listen to. One of my favorites is Essence of Dreams. Its on my Myspace page! If I close my eyes while listening, I'm instantly transported back to the beaches and waters of the islands I love so much. That may sound weird, but my daughters and I love to relax and float around in the calm waters and this is the perfect music to associate with that. Relaxing yet not boring at all!
Plus, Catherine is a wonderful person. I'd love to hear more from her and hope she releases another CD soon~

Himilayan mountaintops, African tundra, floating through space... or time... This album has a "bigness," a maturity, that so many ambient, new-age, chill-out albums lack. It seems to come from a place deep in the heart, not a formulaic, cerebral effort aimed at commercial success. There is a rhythmic and chordal accessability here that is truly refreshing - the listener can 'latch on' to a discernable melody and chord progression in these songs, and call it 'their own' on first listen.
Hard to believe this is a first effort for this stellar songwriter, musician, and producer.
May there me many more!

I came across Catherine at MySpace.com through a common friend from MP3.com, Priscilla Hernandez (Spain).
Her music is classified as Ambient/Celtic/Healing & Easy Listening, although I would add, it is engaging and stimulates the mind while triggering the imagination.

"Visions and Dreams" is truly a gem. It is her first CD on the market and, as of this writing, the only one available. It can be purchased at various retailers such as Tower Records, Target, and Circuit City among others. At Amazon.com you can purchase the physical CD as well as digital downloads.

Her music transports you to another dimension. I've listened to her "Visions and Dreams" CD while driving around the city and the music blends as if it where the soundtrack of my travels. I also listened on my PMP device as I walked around the neighborhood and it was just as a joy to have those songs accompany me. At home it has transported me with its magic as well. Being instrumental, the music lets your imagination run and allows your thoughts to glide along its melodies. I highly recommend this CD to anyone thirsting for fresh new music not heard everyday.

This is definitely music for the heart and soul. Beautiful! Thank you Catherine :)

Catherine Duc describes her style of music as ambient, Celtic, electronica and world. Listening to her CD, it is somewhere in that realm, but to be honest, she has an original style to her music that her description falls short. She does herself a disservice by trying to categorize her work as being similar to someone elses. Her style and compositions are very much her own.

It is ambient, without a doubt. It does have a world feeling, sometimes on the Celtic side, but it is much more original than that. The compositions are all put together on electronic keyboard. It is definitely electronica, but it could stand to be orchestrated. There are ten tracks to this CD, but times are not listed. The CD runs about an hour.

The compositions are mostly above average in development of the melodies and she shows in this CD why she has received awards for her music. The melodies flow well and are mostly memorable.

The electronic keyboard is a blessing and a curse. While allowing the artist to control the compositions, some of these compositions would benefit from having some real instrumentation backing up the delightful keyboard. Her a synthesized instruments sounds synthesized. Some of these compositions deserve some orchestration, and that is a down side to this CD. There are some compositions that could stand some additional power. Some of the melodies jump at the opportunity to be bolder, yet they appear to have been held back. Again, it could have been the fault of the keyboards or production issues.

The compositions are well worth listening to, regardless of the presentation. From the opening notes to the end of the CD, Ms. Duc presents us with some fine ambient selections.

The material here is good. Ms. Duc does well with what she has at her disposal. But some of her compositions could be dressed up a bit with some better production values. She has some compositions that are softer ambient pieces that she does well, but there are compositions here that are strong and should be allowed to impact the listener. Ms. Duc can write a strong melody, and she should allow them to come through. Her softer pieces are soothing and very lovely and she did very well with those.

A good first CD from Ms. Duc. I loved her melodies, and hopefully we will hear more from her. maf

I like to find places in music. This album have a lot. My favorite songs after the first listen are 'Evocation', 'One Autumn Day' and 'In The Light of Day'. The instruments are classic and also explorative. This isn't a real instrumental album because Catherine's voice is another instrument. She don't use words and this make her music very international. Everybody can feel at home in 'Visions and Dreams'. You think you are in a movie, in a game or a real place on earth. This is music we need. A beautiful place to come back!