A Different Shore

Nightnoise

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 1995)
• Original Release Date: 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Windham Hill Records
• ASIN: B000000NKT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #18,094 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magical, mystical, timeless, May 25, 2003

By	David Michael Cook (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Nightnoise is without question an extraordinarily talented group of musicians! Their album A Different Shore is one of their very best, full of haunting instrumentation, lush composition and an overall excellent collection of memorable yet timeless tunes.

Their opening track, "Call of the Child" is one of my favorites for its beautiful, full sound and extremely memorable melody--instantly evocative of a crisp Irish morning or afternoon. Stunning.

Next up is "For Eamonn", a dirgelike but happy little piece that moves into a quiet introspective led by guitars and flutes. Not my favorite by any means, but a contemplative, subtly beautiful piece.

"Falling Apples" is the only song on here I just honestly don't like. Her voice is painfully shrill, and maybe it's just me but it seems to go on for far too long. Moving on...

"The Busker on the Bridge" is another fabulous song, one which makes me think of a pier or small village in the springtime. It's hard to describe just why this song is so good, but it has an exciting, evocative quality that is almost unmatched on the album.

"Morning in Madrid" is absolutely worth the price of the album. Starting with a beautiful piano line and moving into a Renaissance-era violin/guitar ensemble, it is one of the most gorgeous melodies I have ever heard, particularly if you are fond of Celtic music. This song is exceptional, and probably my favorite on the album.

"Another Wee Niece" - takes a while to grow on you, as it's slow and somehow isn't as powerful as the rest, but it's quite a good song as well. While some songs on A Different Shore are more powerful due to their quietness, this piece seems somehow diminished by it--one hopes it would get more exciting and louder at some point... it does pick up later with a beautiful piano melody, but I wish it came earlier in the song.

"A Different Shore" is a breathtakingly beautiful piece, full of memory and grace. This song, and its title, fit the album's image so perfectly it's indescribable. I will simply never get tired of listening to this unbelievable song.

"Mind the Dresser" - a traditional Irish piano melds into a more traditional song format.. this is one of the ones I find myself listening to the most, both for its beautiful sense of urgency and motion and for its power. Another completely 5-star song!

"Clouds Go By" is somehow a disappointment after the excitement of "Mind the Dresser", but it fits the theme well enough. The melding of piano and guitar is exceptionally good on this particular track.

"Shuan" is another quiet, mysterious track, not as excellent as "A Different Shore" but nonetheless a great outtro to an astounding CD. With the lone exception of "Falling Apples", which some people may love, Nightnoise's "A Different Shore" will stand the test of tine. This is extraordinary music. Enjoy!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Nightnoise provides an hour of light listening., June 1, 2001

By	Christopher Culver - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

A DIFFERENT SHORE is one of Nightnoise's most listenable albums and never before has their production so well reflected their fusion of Celtic, jazz, and chamber music elements.

The album's opening track, "Call of the Child," is a relatively simple guitar-heavy song, but it is with "For Eammon" that the mood is set. "For Eammon" is lush and haunting, and the album's closer, "Shuan," is very similar.

In fact, most of the tracks here are mood pieces, with only "The Call of the Child" and "The Busker on the Bridge" refraining from an airy, ethereal sound. Plus, there's "Falling Apples," the only track with lyrics, provided by Triona Ni Dhomnaill. In some ways, it is the low point of the album, as the sudden voice breaks the continuity.

While not an incredible important release, A DIFFERENT SHORE beats most of the new-agey music out there with its musical excellence, genuine compositional talents, and bold realization.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lyrical Journey, December 5, 2000

By	Mark A. Smith (Bend, Oregon) - See all my reviews

I have followed Nightnoise for many years, and have never missed an opportunity to see them in concert. Their debut album, AT THE END OF THE EVENING, wove a masterful tapestry of vocal and instrumental elements that set a standard of virtuosity that raised my expectations with each album release. Another reviewer lamented the relative absence of Triona Domnhaille's voice. While it is true she does not sing as much on this album as previously, her vocal efforts are even more appreciated.

At my first hearing I found myself drawn up into the music and carried along from piece to piece, as on a journey. When Triona adds her voice, it is with purpose and intention, as if the album was more than just a collection of songs, but the sum of its parts. Nightnoise may have taken us on a journey to a different shore, but hearing Triona's voice toward the end of the album assured me I had not traveled alone. A Different Shore is an exquisite lyrical journey.