Customer Reviews

Voices

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

 

 

With atmospheric treatments provided by brother Brian, "Voices" is a lovely album that merits positive comparison to works by Harold Budd. As other reviewers have noted, it has a very similar feel to the ambient classic "The Pearl". It is a bit different however, a little less abstract perhaps. I've been listening to this album for about 20 years now and it definitely holds up.

I believe this was R. Eno's first album and it is, along with "Between Tides," (which for some reason is hard to find) his most successful. "Voices" has a lot in common with the Eno/Budd classics "The Pearl" and "Plateaux of Mirror" (the latter of which is also puzzingly hard to find), but is more literal, less moody. A listener will find that, much like Brian Eno's work, the compositions adapt well to a variety of moods and landscapes. The album's chameleon-like quality makes it as relevant now as when it first came out. Later R. Eno would descend miserably into New Agey "chamber music," but has recently surfaced from that muck with "Damage," an album also worthy of investigation.

This, Roger Eno's first solo album, gets a mixed response from me. A few of the tracks, such as "Through The Blue" and "The Old Dance" stand out as some of my all-time favorites. But why do "Voices" and "The Day After" seem to sound just the same? And is it mere coincidence that "Recalling" and "A Place" use the same Left-Hand piano chord pattern? This is an Album that has to be included in the Canon of R. Eno's greatest works, but it also seems more like a vehicle for Brian Eno's "Treatments" than a Roger Eno solo debut.

The Chinese have a saying that goes something like this: a picture can say more than a thousad words.In many ways this also reflects what can be said about this album.It is completely without lyrics,but says so endlessly much.

As such it is an ambient album,but of the easier kind than what often encounters here.It can easily be compared to Brian Eno`s album The Pearl, but with the distinction of being of a kind that appeals more to more cheerful kind. Where Brian`s album is more reflective ,Roger has made his album more open and joyful if you like.In many ways though they are very similar.Actually you might say they are like two sides of a coin. If you would like to spend your coins well I do strogly recommend that you invest in Roger Eno`s VOICES.

I first came across Roger Eno on Brian Eno's Music for Films III where he performed the wonderfully simple but hugely effective 'Fleeting Smile'. This album is very much in the same vein.

Apparently often compared to Satie and Debussy, Roger Eno's work reminds me at times of Angelo Badalamenti in it's chord progressions and evocative moodiness. It is far more pared down though, not necessarily simplified, but stripped to it's basic components. The essential instrument on all tracks is the acoustic piano but this is treated with echo, reverb and backed up with subtle background electronica. The overall effect can be amazingly calming and uplifting but also, at times, a bit gloomy.

I suppose, given the titles, some tracks might sound a bit like the musical equivalents of Jack Vettriano pictures, of which I am not a huge fan. But the music is far more subtle than that, and far more open - to your own interpretations, associations and memories. Leave the titles to one side and simply immerse yourself in the music. You can put the album on in the background and treat it as 'ambient' - nothing wrong with that at all - but the pieces do also reward actually being listened to, rather than simply heard. Either way, they are evocative, gentle and contemplative.

The quality of the MP3 tracks seems fine - downloaded with a bit rate of around 210Kbps.

"Voices" is an album of meditative piano pieces by Roger Eno with treatments by his brother Brian. It's very reminiscent of the Eno/Budd collaborations "The Plateaux of Mirrors" and "The Pearl", and like those works, it's music that can either be listened to seriously or just played at low volume in the background. In other words, it's "as ignorable as it is listenable". If you're an ambient music fan, you owe it to yourself to get this album.

If you loved Apollo, then this is for you. It has more in common with Music for Films, but still captures the gravity and majesty that you're looking for - don't be afraid of this one.