Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An underrated classic, February 27, 2001
Arcadia was a Duran Duran spin-off (Roger Taylor, Nick Rhodes, and Simon Le Bon), while the other members (John Taylor and Andy Taylor) were doing Power Station, but don't let that fool you. This is by far the best music they ever produced. Guest vocals by Sting and Grace Jones, and the music of Herbie Hancock lend some artistic credibility which is not needed after a listen. While a couple of the songs are typical, although very well done, 80's type songs (Election Day and Goodbye is Forever), they are the exception rather than the rule on this very underrated CD. Several of the songs could play well on Jazz stations, and are musically beautifully written and recorded. Overall, this CD is well worth the price if you can find it. It was not released on CD for a number of years after it was produced, and then only overseas. If you are not a fan of Duran Duran, then not to worry, only a couple of songs have their trademark sound, the rest of the music is a combination of moods, styles and sounds which play well anywhere. Easy five stars!
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41 of 46 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A step toward the avant-guarde..., January 18, 2002
In the mid 1980s, Duran splintered off into two side projects...Power Station and Arcadia. What did it prove? Well we finally knew which members were fans of Chic and who were fans of Bryan Ferry/David Sylvian...but enough on that...This album was an amazing accomplishment. Three members from what some called a bubblegum-pop group came together and forged an album of beauty with the helping hands of jazz musician Mark Isham, avant-guarde percussionist David Van Tiegam, David Gilmor and Sting...all added credibility to the project. Here the music is textured...layered and beautiful. The funky grind of "Election Day", the bittersweet chugging melody of "Goodbye is Forever", the simple sweetness of "Missing", the sadness of Simon's voice and just pure poetry in "The Promise" and the crystalline beauty of the epic "Lady Ice". This album was a great "teething-toy" for those would later listen to David Sylvian, Bryan Ferry, amd delve into jazz and
avant-guarde music. I encourage anyone interested in something better than pop music to buy this CD! You won't regret it!
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Epic Duran Duran spin-off project, March 19, 1999
By A Customer
This immaculately produced and performed album primarily serves as a showcase for keyboard player Nick Rhodes' talents as a soundsmith. Arcadia, consisting of Rhodes, Simon Le Bon and drummer Roger Taylor, assisted by a host of other musicians including Grace Jones, Sting, David Gilmour, and Herbie Hancock, let Nick realise all his ideas, and Simon wrote some of his best and most touching lyrics for this album. As a whole, it is very atmospheric, and songs like 'El Diablo', 'Missing' and 'Lady Ice' are downright ethereal. The two best-known tracks, 'Election Day' with its humongous beat and the beautiful 'The Promise' with Sting helping out on backing vocals, are my favourites on an album that showed even the most stuck-up and narrow-minded critics that the members of Duran Duran were (are) not just pretty boys devoid of talent. Even today 'So Red The Rose' stands out as a collection of great songs and as one of the best produced albums ever.
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