The Space Between Us

Craig Armstrong

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 24, 1998)
• Original Release Date: February 24, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Melankolic
• ASIN: B0000065JU
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #53,550 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Weather Storm

2. This Love - Craig Armstrong, Elizabeth Fraser

3. Sly II

4. After the Storm

5. Laura's Theme

6. My Father

7. Balcony Scene

8. Rise

9. Glasgow

10. Let's Go Out Tonight

11. Childhood

12. Hymn

Editorial Reviews

URB

[F]rom his lush string arrangements and piano contributions on Massive Attack's sophomore LP ... [Armstrong] stands up straight on his own merits. His music reverberates with stark beauty and soulful shards of emotion. This is orchestral music woven into an urban landscape.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take the music for what it is., October 30, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Oregon) - See all my reviews

I was drawn to this album after hearing Armstrong's work on Protection, as well as the inclusion of This Love on the oh-so-modern soundtrack to the hedonistic angst movie Cruel Intentions. Since I bought it, the album has become a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, since lately the idea of pop-classical music has become tightly associated with second-rate new age crap. However, I like to think that I know crap when I hear it, and this it ain't. A recent reviewer disliked this album because he found that Armstrong lacks the technical musical integrity of real classical composers, citing Chopin and Satie. Well what the hell do you expect? First of all, how can you expect the emphasis to be on that aspect of the music when you're listening to someone associated with Massive Attack? Remember the original version of Weather Storm? Secondly, just because it doesn't have those qualities doesn't make it suck. The point of the music here is the ambience. Every track here is like a melodramatically angst-ridden soundtrack to the kind of lazy, unbathed Sunday afternoon that doesn't happen in real life. It isn't sorrowful in the same straightforward sense as Portishead, but in its own way it's even more brooding. To paraphrase Marge Simpson, this album just screams subtlety.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Play on a rainy night and just stare out the window..., January 24, 2004

By	Manny Hernandez "Author of Ning For Dummies" (Bay Area, CA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)

I almost hate myself for giving this review such a cliched title, but the truth is that Armstrong's first solo album is one of those "night" albums, to be played with dim lights, perhaps, watching the rainfall out the window.

There are certain artists whose work touch you in ways that are difficult to relate, and Craig Armstrong falls in that category, alongside artists such as David Sylvian (check out his 'Secrets of the Beehive') and the extinct band The Blue Nile (don't miss their 'Hats for anything in the world), whose lead vocalist Paul Buchanan sings the most beautiful rendition of their classic "Let's Go Out Tonight" in this album.

Other sublime tracks to be found in the album, are the exquisite "Glasgow", the opening and closing tracks, "My Father" and Romeo and Juliet's "Balcony Scene", a song that will go down in history as a classic. The truth is, you will rejoice in this musical experience if you have a soul. Along with his follow-up 2002 album 'As If Nothing', 'Space Between Us' not only showcases the work of Craig Armstrong: it introduces us to one of this century's greatest scoring talents.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply stunning, March 12, 2003

By	Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Like a lot of people, I was first introduced to Craig Armstrong with his collaboration with Massive Attack on "Weather Storm". I was absolutely taken by that particular song and his ability to seduce the listener with the use of stringed instruments. The first time I heard "This Love" was the Sarah Brightman version on her album "Eden". I didn't realize that Craig Armstrong was responsible for that song when I heard his version with Elizabeth Fraser on "The Classic Chillout Album" compilation released last year. Another breathtaking song. I love both Sarah and Craig's versions of the song. Craig Armstrong is an amazing composer and has recently became one of my favorite modern composers, alongside Ennio Morricone and Michael Nyman. "Sly II" is another great song. The momentum in the song really builds up. I could almost hear that particular song used in a film with the intense build up in the music. "After the Storm" is almost something that Philip Glass would have composed with its minimalist beats and almost lack of melodies and chaotic rhythm. I swear I have heard "Laura's Theme" somewhere but I just don't know where. It is a gorgeous song. The dark haunting melodies would definitely be a perfect song to add to any soundtrack. I get the chills just listening to this song. What I really like about Craig Armstrong so much is that none of his music comes off loud and bombastic like John Williams and Hans Zimmer's music does (as much as I enjoy Hans Zimmer's music). The emotions in the songs easily translates on to the big screen. I am eager to hear Craig's new music for the "Quiet American" film. He definitely has made me a big fan of his music.