Vol. 1-2-Cathedral Oceans [Import]

John Foxx | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 9, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Edsel Records UK
• ASIN: B00009OOIU
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #297,725 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Cathedral Oceans

2. City as Memory

3. Through Summer Rooms

4. Geometry and Coincidence

5. If Only...

6. Shifting Perspective

7. Floating Islands

8. Infinite in All Directions

9. Avenham Collonade

10. Sunset Rising

See all 11 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Revolving Birdsong

2. Shimmer Symmetry

3. Far and Wide 2

4. Ad Infinitum

5. Quiet Splendour

6. Luminous and Gone

7. Stillness and Wonder

8. Return to a Place of Remembered Beauty

9. Visible and Invisible

10. Golden Green

Editorial Reviews

John Foxx describes Cathedral Oceans as being ''Music for a vast, half-submerged, ruined cathedral.'' Others might describe it as the ultimate chill out music. The shifting, shimmering voices & echoes place it between New Age soundscapes & the likes of Brian Eno's Music For Airports. This mid-price 2 CD set is beautifully packaged in a gatefold double digipak, with imagery designed by John Foxx himself. Recording originally began in 1983, & whilst Volume I was previously available as a limited edition, Volume II is previously unreleased in any form. 21 tracks. Edsel Records. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cathedral Oceans, April 28, 2005

By 

SystemStructure "System uses Meditate! A goo... (town, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vol. 1-2-Cathedral Oceans (Audio CD)

Dive into a ethereal and submersive work of art in Foxx's "Cathedral Oceans." An original concept album that deals with something along the lines of a vast, invisible church that exists... somewhere. As for the music itself, it is very much as the name would suggest, with vast and wide church choirs set amidst ambient phrases. Without a doubt, it fills a gap in my record collection (Christian vocal music).

John Foxx sure is an interesting character. After being left behind in the New Wave 80's rock scene he started cranking out these deep, abstract concept albums left and right. My favorite of all his works is the one he did with minimalist composer, Harold Budd. It was on the double album "Translucence and Drift" that Foxx did some of his most amazing work. I think Harold's minimalism is a good counterpoint to Foxx's wall of sound. Indeed, there are times on "Oceans" that I wish Foxx had simply left a minimal ambient track without vocals here and there.

Regardless, it is a refreshing though slightly New Agey work of art that I welcome with open arms in this age of shallow, transient flotsam. Best tracks are :

Shimmer Symmetry
City as Memory
Aven Collonade
Through Summer Rooms

3 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars inspirational, March 30, 2004

By 

12 Eloquent Dots (Sitting next to that girl right over there.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vol. 1-2-Cathedral Oceans (Audio CD)

This album is beyond words. John Foxx is truly an innovator. He separates himself from the "creative geniuses" of his age with this collection. David Sylvian and John Foxx have become the only musicians from this era that are standing-out, yet releasing other cds that show they can rock. Bravo John. If Dead Can Dance could have only done something like this, their cds would have been worth keeping.