Customer Reviews

Vox

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Hey, ...don't know about you ., but i've been collecting this guy's incredible music ,oh, 20 years maybe!!From "cAVERNA mAGICA, "wHITE Winds",,,,,,,,"Down to the Moon", ...the list goes on ....this is one incredible musician!!This swiss-born harp player has truly bleesed my (AND AN AWFUL LOT OF MY FRIENDS, TOO!) with absolutely incredible music , the last 2 decades!!His composing skills are phenomenal!, his unique playing ability on the harp is truly awesome , and, what's more , ..he has composed some of the most relaxing ,beautiful music ---ever!!!!(some claim, i know).Of recent years , Andreas , ,has gotten more involved in the more 'classical' music field ...to me, he was not as inspiring..so, ..i was a little unsure how this new album would sound,..phew, was i in for a shock!!....This new Andreas Vollenweider c.d. is absolutely STUNNING!!!!!!!!From it's incredible opening track-"Hello"!...to the end of this c. d. you , if you appreciate inspired music , will be enthralled Mr Vollenweider is back on form!!The real shock , is the 'vocal' tracks, with Andreas 's own voice (HENCE THE TITLE OF THIS C.D.)The lyrics/vocals are truly , beautiful, especially on the songs-"Innocent", "Ripples in the lake (of time) , and the masterpiece..."Hearts of Gold"....what a GLLLLORIOUS song , this is!!!Thankyou , Andreas vOLLENWEIDER for a truly, truly remarkable album!!.one of your best!!!I treasure this album , close to my heart!(Please , Andreas, play a date (dates) in England(Manchester, Birmingham) this summer ---England needs your music, ..oh, and America, too!BUY THIS C.D.!!!-TONY-eNGLAND

It had been five years since Vollenweider's last album (excluding the "Essential" album) and I wasn't sure if he was going to keep going, but imagine my surprise to go online and see "Vox" available. Being an avid Vollenweider fan I readily bought it as an import, not knowing exactly what I was in for. But wow, what a treat this album is!

"Vox" is much different from anything he has recorded previously (like Eolean Minstrel most songs are lyrical), but Andreas has really pulled this one off nicely. This album is full of imagination and sophistication yet the messages in his songs are clear and simple.

This album is truly a pleasurable and uplifting listening experience from start to finish. It is a perfect blend of pop and new age with some hints of jazz on songs such as "Wake up and dance" and "Song of Sysiphos," and even a bit of Oriental on "Seven Doors." There are many sound effects and choruses throughout that enhance the music. The songs "These hearts of Gold" and "Innocent" are especially moving. The former is a beautiful ballad dedicated to the "hearts of gold" in society such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Mother Teresa, and is so touching it almost brings me to tears. The latter has a smooth pop feel and flows gracefully with soft, touching lyrics about letting go of guilt and shame instilled in us through the generations. I love the chorus and melodies in this song. Similarly, "Ripples in the lake of time" has great lyrics and lyrical melodies and a pop feel. Walter Kaiser sounds great on percussion throughout the entire album and becomes prevailant in songs such as the gorgeous opener "Hey you...yes you!" and "Enchanted Rocks," both of which remind me somewhat of "Stella" from Cosmopoly. Really there are no weak tracks on this album--every song is well composed with perfect execution.

"Vox" is a true masterpiece...I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!!!

Once again Andreas Vollenweider has created something slightly different from, but clearly connected to, his past work. There are two versions, imported and domestic (this one). Actually, I feel the imported is more interesting in that the additional songs and different sequencing seems to create a more complex overall sound. As others have pointed out, this is his first serious foray into vocal work. I think it works and that it works well. The lyrics are interesting, always have something to say, in fact are often touching, and his voice is quite agreeable (I strongly disagree with the Amazon reviewer's putdown of Vollenweider's voice--as well as with a few other rather odd putdowns). In fact, his expressiveness in conveying the intention of the lyric surprised me and, in my view, demonstrates a subtle artistry of yet another instrument--his voice.
As I continue to listen to this album , I have begun to feel that this is one of his best works. Perhaps because of the meaningfulness of the lyrics or the complexity of the music, this CD has affected me as strongly as my favorite works of the past. On the DVD portion of the domestic disc, Andreas is interviewed and he elucidates his view regarding the influence that music has on emotions and thoughts. He certainly demonstrates such influence on this CD.

This record is mezmering. After all these years the distinctive harp sound is fresh as ever. World influences abound and take the listener to far-off places. His voice and harp mesh with his lyrical and thoughtful songs to create a very special listening experience. The back-up singers and the soft beats add to the texture of the record.

My dad uses to say the most beautiful music he's ever heard is Vollenweider's. I haven't played him this penultimate album yet, but if I do I'm completely sure he would put a strange face on a few songs. For me it sounds a little too dark, intimidating and sometimes even scary. Sure it doesn't have to be always the delicate beauty of 'Down to the Moon' B-side, or the melodic charm of 'Eolian Minstrel'. But the gloom and darkness of all the melodies and the soft use of his own voice, which I prefer as he did before as a mere accompaniment for the actual instrumental music, make me feel uneasy along most of the work.


Although Vollenweider's music has been darkening a bit with each record, in this one he's gone too far, sounding really void and unfeeling, even uninspired in some tracks. Probably I'm going too far with this review, but probably counts that I would expect much more from Andreas Vollenweider than from the rest of the musicians, and so this makes me go a little further in disappointment. The quality is still good, but for me it is the weakest attempt from the artist so far and it loses a bit of the soul his works always had. But knowing him, his next one will be completely different and he'll reach inspiration in new faraway sources of art.

As other reviewers have pointed out, this album is different from Andreas' other albums because, on Vox, he sings LYRICS--possibly for the first time. I say "possibly" because I think he sang some background vocals with lyrics on Eolian Minstrel, but I'm not sure. It's also important to keep in mind that singing has been a part of Andreas' recordings since the beginning. The difference is that on his earlier recordings, he sang only syllables (like "scat" singing in jazz) and only on a few songs. Therefore, his voice, in general, is not a completely new element in his music. Andreas' singing on Vox is quite enjoyable, in my opinion, even if some might argue that it is not spectacular (e.g., see Amazon.com's review of the domestic release of Vox on the Kin Kou label for a critical viewpoint).

This international release of Vox has at least one advantage over the domestic release on Kin Kou. This import release includes three songs not found on the domestic version: "King & the Fool," "Innocent," and "Silver Moment." So far, only "Silver Moment" has been released as a bonus track on iTunes. Of the three songs unique to this import edition, "Innocent" is my personal favorite and one of the best on the album overall, in my opinion. It's a touching vocal duet with Andreas and a female relative (a niece, I think) singing about the serious theme of the innocence of children. On the other hand, the domestic release of Vox includes "Home of Love," which is not included on this import edition. For those who've already bought this import edition, "Home of Love" is available on-line from iTunes.

Vox is a solid effort, but it has the feeling of being less fully developed than Andreas' earlier albums (some of the songs are quite short and sound almost like little "jams" or sustained vamps rather than fully developed songs). I felt the same way about Cosmopoly, although I like that album too. Because I don't think this album represents Andreas' best work compositionally, I've given it four stars. Longtime Vollenweider fans and new listeners alike will probably enjoy Vox. To hear some of Andreas' best work, check out White Winds, Dancing with the Lion, Down to the Moon, Book of Roses, and Caverna Magica.

Finally, I strongly disagree with the Amazon.com reviewer's critical take on Vox in the review of the domestic edition. There, the reviewer accuses Andreas of doing a corny Louis Armstrong imitation as a joke on "Enchanted Rocks." That's his opinion, of course, but I think it's a real stretch. I didn't take Andreas' singing on "Enchanted Rocks" that way at all, and I think that song is actually quite entertaining.

Here's a minority opinion, evidently. I couldn't have been more disappointed! I didn't hear a single instrumental line I haven't heard Andreas do better on earlier recordings (and I have almost all his albums.) I always enjoy imagining the worlds and the stories that his melodies suggest to me. But with the lyrics and singing in the foreground on this album, I felt like I was being told how to interpret what I was hearing. And a 9 minute narrative "guided tour?" Talk about filler!

As to the singing and the lyrics ... there are a million singer/songwriters out there (many of whom write better lyrics and sing far better) but there are very few composers of interesting music. I always found Vollenweider creative and original, but I thought he lost his muse on this one.

I HAVE ALL OF THIS MAN'S MUSIC AND I LOVE IT! VOX IS DIFERENT WITH THE WONDERFUL VOCALS; AND THERE ARE SOME REAL GEMS ON THE CD. I HEAR THERE ALSO IS A DVD COMING; OF WHICH I WILL PURCHASE. I HAVE SEEN ANDREAS, IN PERSON, IN CONCERT IN ATL AND IT WWAS ONE OTHE BEST I HAVE EVER ATTENDED. I HOPE THAT VOLLENWEIDER JUST KEEPS ON CREATING ! SINCERELY, KATHY YOUNG

"Son of Sysiphos" may just be the "new" perspective
of where modern jazz meshed with new age may be taking
us, and again Vollenweider succeeds in top form on this
song. It is definately light years ahead of it's time,
and wonderful at the same time!

Not surprisingly, this is a "lead vocal with lyrics" album, making it the followup to Eolian Minstrel. This one gets male lead vocalists, who are very good, and the melodies are stronger and more accessible than in that premiere outing. The opening song reminds me of something off King Crimson's In the Wake of Poseidon or Rick Wakeman's No Earthly Connection. Vollenweider continues his practice of experimenting with instruments and sounds, with a few moments of Middle Eastern instrumentation, smooth jazz, police sirens, and vocal whooping in the style of Michael Jackson! This truly odd album shows Vollenweider perhaps lacking focus as he tackles a hodgepodge of styles, but he displays enough studio prowess and inspiration to make it all intriguing. I guess I'd have to classify this one as Progressive New Age (a truly frightening concept.) A strong outing, though like any Prog it takes few listens to sink in.