Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
26 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful----, June 1, 2002
When I bought this CD by Mandalay (aka, Saul Freeman and Nicola Hitchcock) I didn't like it. I was listening to it thinking that I was gonna have to sell it but after a few more listens it started sinking in. That's why I never try to sell a CD until I've heard it at least 5 times through - just to make sure. Too many of my favorite CDs are the ones that I had detested only to later prize and cherish. I don't think that this is gonna be one of them but it's a hell of a lot better than initially assumed. I was taking a huge chance at buying this for I'm not particularly keen on buying something based on 30 second samples but the song "Beautiful" is what had drawn me in. After listening to it on a supposedly hand-picked Madonna radio station I knew that I had to have it. That song is simply . . . well . . . Beautiful with the smooth electronics and exotic trumpet playing. I have to say, though, that "This Life" is the best song on Mandalay's SOLACE album. It reminds me of songs like "Push" on Olive's TRICKLE album. It's sort of like symphonic electronica with strings and melodic tempos. "Flowers Bloom", however, reminds me (mainly in the beginning) of Madonna's "Bedtime Story". Another personal favorite is "Like Her" and "I Don't Want The Night To End" which has a darker feel to it that's sensual and mysterious. This album is sort of a cross between soft electronica, chill-out and trip-hop. My only complaint is how Nicola Hitchcock (whom provides the spine-tingling vocals) sings in such a breathy voice that's often trembling - almost as if she's afraid to break loose. I suppose that that was the effect she was trying to convey but I think that she should sing more fully on their next release (assuming that they release something else). Don't get me wrong, though, the soft singing is effective, it just feels as though she is singing below her potential. She really does have a relaxing voice, though... One thing I really like about the US release is the extra bonus CD filled with several remixes. The second CD is a mixed-bag of good AND bad remixes but it's still a nice addition. None of them are as good as the originals but some are quite enjoyable... (in a mediocre sort of way).
|
|
|
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Finding "Solace", October 5, 2004
Mandalay's "Solace" is the sort of album that takes awhile to sink into your consciousness -- it's ethereal, bittersweet and full of Nicola Hitchcock's sweetly airy vocals. While the bonus remix disc is so-so, with some dud remixes, the songs are a slice of trip-hop heaven.
The tone is set with the trip-hop/piano ballad, "Not Seventeen," a wistful ballad that slips into the slightly trippier breakup song "Like Her." Smooth, soft soundscapes are the base of all the songs -- almost all ballads, with a few bouncier trip-hop songs mixed in there. Among the following songs are the smooth "Beautiful" (most recently covered by Sarah Brightman), the poppy "It's Enough Now," wispy "Enough Love," and the eerie, spacey "Flowers Bloom."
The second disc is something of a disappointment. Some of the songs don't fare so well when covered with trippy beats, like "Beautiful (12'' Canny Mix)." It completely disrupts the sweetness of the song to have sharp percussion and windy synths. The horn-and-strings of "This Life" and sweet "Deep Love" are drowned in harsh, discoish rhythms. But there are some solid remixes, like the dreamy "Beautiful (Lenny's Sunset Mix)" and music-box melody of "Deep Love (Nitin Sawhney Remix)."
There's something very soothing and sweet about Mandalay. The trancey trip-hop mixes mellow and moody, with the occasional dose of organic instrumentation to keep it from getting dull. The first disc isn't the sort of thing you dance to, but rather drowse to on an autumn evening. The second... well, you can dance to it, but it lacks sweetness.
The heavier beats of many remixes are a problem -- they cover up the delicate melodies in bleeps and blips. But in the original and softer mixes, the music is outstanding. There are hints of horn, piano, church bells and violins mixed in, as well as some windy synth that underscores them. It helps ground the trippy music.
Nicola Hitchcock has a lovely voice. It's sweet, cool and pure as stream water. An odd thing about it is that her voice is almost always trembling, as if she's on the verge of crying. Odd, but somehow endearing. In a few songs, she sounds stronger and more assured ("Flowers Bloom" is a good example). The lyrics are simple and almost childlike; in Hitchcock's voice, they sound very heartfelt.
Mandalay's music is as beautiful and light as a glass butterfly, and "Solace" is a solid collection of songs and remixes. Although the remix disc is not so good, the original songs are excellent.
|
|
|
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Solace for those who can't hear this & thank you Amazon.com, March 25, 2002
As a long time fan of EBTG and Tracy Thorn, I loved her recordings with Massive Attack, and one day, out of the blue, good ol' Amazon sent me the usual mail saying you have bought material by ***, try Mandalay's Solace.Well, why not?! So with my next book order, I added Solace to the list. The unremarkable album cover looks like a PowerPoint background, but inside, it's great. "Beautiful", is probably the top track on the album, with 3 variations, and the 12" Canny mix is my favourite. Some of the material reminded me of early Propaganda, but infinitely smoother. I prefer Mandaly to Portishead, who were always a little weak with their vocals, and after listening to them after Solace, that opinion is confirmed. The material blends well, giving the impression of a single hour long song. But it is the remixes on the bonus CD that make this version so good. The now familiar sound of a soft girl's harmonising voice over a throbbing beat is so good, it will be hard to find better material. And thanks to the Amazon team for introducing this to me - you have good taste!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Mandalay 
