Conjure One

Conjure One

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 17, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk Records
• ASIN: B00006FSUB
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,583 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
When it comes to popular music, a proven formula is a safer bet than chancing something new. Apparently, such is the wisdom behind Conjure One, the new project spearheaded by Delerium and Front Line Assembly architect Rhys Fulber. As he did with Delerium, Fulber pairs guest vocalists of the mostly ethereal variety with gauzy ambient-tribal pop full of Eastern shadings and just enough chanting to maintain the spooky quotient. And when Fulber nails a vibe--as he does twice with singer Poe on the dreamy, goose-fleshy "Center of the Sun" and the downright chilling "Make a Wish," and with Tea Party belter Jeff Martin on the widescreen "Premonition"--he nails it, creating a haunted landscape best described as New Age-worldbeat. There are some clunkers here, too. Sinead O'Connor is thwarted by the leaden clichés littering "Tears from the Moon," and Israeli vocalist Chemda shamelessly borrows from the late, great Ofra Haza to negligible effect. But anyone who dug the Delerium project--or kindred spirits such as Dead Can Dance--will declare Conjure One a success. --Kim Hughes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WITH ME FOREVER, March 9, 2003

By	Soaring Heart - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Have you ever found a cd that entralled and ensnared you instantly? Like you had been asleep for days, weeks or years even but the Music woke you from your slumber? You felt AWAKE and ALIVE as never before and were FIXATED and became ONE with the Music? And you experienced such profound deja vu, that you shivered and you KNEW the SECOND the music began THIS ONE would root itself into your heart afixing itself permanently because it was a PART OF YOUR HEART that you didn't know was missing?

CONJURE ONE is ONE of a limited few that has succeeded in doing this to me personally and EVEN MORE! The dramatic, dreamy, haunting, passionate, emotional, gripping, intense fusion of pop & world Music, Vocals AND Lyrics all FIT, COMPLEMENT and BELONG together perfectly and MAKE SENSE.

If someone asked, "What one cd is most representative of you?" At this time in my life, I would have to pick this one. Each song is a part of me! It's difficult to admit something so personal. Yet I feel like sharing this because it completely baffles me that this can be true!
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Here are some lyric excerpts and/or notes I love and I believe won't give too much away but give you a taste of the bittersweet mystery:

1 *Damascus*--a brief, opening instrumental with, in my opinion, a religious connotation from Acts 9:1-9. Take it any way you want it.

2 *Center of the Sun*--with Poe. This song, for me, is the Heart of the cd, definitely my favorite track. "When I close my eyes, I am at the center of the sun. And I can not be hurt by anything this wicked world has done...You say the most beautiful things, just like my violins..."

3 *Tears from the Moon*--I didn't like it at first coming after the soaring to the sun atmosphere created by Center of the Sun; however, NOW it makes perfect sense to me why it is after it. Tears can be tears of joy, even though they hurt, yes? They are TRUTH and in being so, they are BEAUTY. Plus they make me think of a very special friend of mine..."Couldn't sleep so I went out walking, thinking about you and hearing us talking...Baby, I adore you..."

4 *Tidal Pool*--oh yeah! So relaxing. Lush vocals blow in like the ocean surf and you can even hear ocean and seagulls at times! Ah, but think about a tidal pool. What does it do? Well it does it here too! Wow, this is more intense than I remember! All instrumental except for this beautiful feminine voice crying out to you in the wind like a ghost...

5 *Manic Star*--with the gorgeous voice of Claire D'Ubaldo. Oh yeah, here's another favorite!"...Grains of sand is all we are, crawling on our manic star, one tiny person and one shiny car, swimming on our manic star...Let's love like there is no tomorrow, shelter each other from the pain and sorrow." Nothing short of brilliant perfection.

6 *Redemption*--with Chemba. This one has a power over me, I am telling you--EVERYTIME I HEAR IT, MY SOUL LIFTS MY BODY UP INTO A SYLVAN DANCE UNDER A MIDNIGHT MOON! Fifty-four seconds from the start, the drums and bass crush the sultry chants
transforming them into moans and cries purifying the spirit. This one is very, very special to me.

7 *Years*--oh my. Where are the words? Not gonna touch this one. Shouldn't have touched Manic Star! But I had to, heh. Will say it is trancey, dancey, dreamy, delicious, trickling, tickling instrumentation of a Higher Power.

8 *Make a Wish*--with Poe again. Oh God! Yet another personal favorite song! "Make a wish, you can close your eyes it's alright...Tomorrow I will have no shame and I will start again..."

9 *Pandora*--perhaps like opening Pandora's Box? But there is no evil here...magical, wonderous, soul-slamming drama to lift you up to the heavens!

10 *Sleep*--with Marie-Claire D'Ubaldo...oh, I must try sleeping to this cd! Wow, what a lovely voice! "Without sleep there are no dreams, without dreams we'd fall apart at the seams..." And a voice whispers at the end...

11 *Premonition" reprise--exquisite ending to a intoxicating cd. The violins come in and out throughout the entire cd but oh do I feel them here crying and not wanting to leave! They want to be heard, remembered and cherished...And they will by ME!
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BOTTOM LINE: MUSIC IS A GIFT. Without a doubt, I was meant to have CONJURE ONE. A whole-hearted thank you to Rhys Fulber and everyone that had anything whatsoever to do with CONJURE ONE. You should be proud! Awesome music, ALL of it. A haunting, echoing blend of emotions straight from the Heart and Soul of Music to us. Truly Music of the FULL SPECTRUM variety to aid our hearts to sprout mighty, expansive wings and...

SOAR!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Is Truly Something!, October 23, 2002

By	Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Just like Balligomingo, Conjure One has been a long time in the makings. But now that it's available to the public I couldn't be more happy for its stunning outcome and for the certainty of Rhys Fulber's breakthrough success. I miss his contributions to Front Line Assembly and especially to Delerium but, because of creative differences, Rhys Fulber decided to depart his works with Bill Leeb after the release of Karma as to further pursue his first solo project, Conjure One, which turned out just as good as any Delerium album. I'm sure that he's gotta hate all these comparisons to his former group though, so let me state that there are some major differences which evidently separate the two, such as his favor for orchestrated strings as opposed to Gregorian-type chantings. There's also a more definite world sound here, mainly due to the maginificent vocals of Chemba (whom sings with sweeping intensity on "Redemption") and Marie-Claire D'Ubaldo, whom sings on one of my favorite tracks, "Manic Star", which deals with the suffocating acknowledgment of how death will someday append on us all and how (to one extent or another) we're all afraid of it. She also sings on a seductive tune called "Sleep", which also happens to be one of my personal favorites. The most well-known artist, however, would have to be the phenomenal Poe, which gives Conjure One its attitude, I think, on songs like "Make A Wish" and "Center Of The Sun". Sinead O'Connor also guest sings on "Tears From The Moon", which is probably the most radio-friendly. And though I didn't really care for any of the instrumentals upon first listening, I now find "Years" and "Pandora" to be two of the most stunning tracks on here. The only song I still can't seem to take a liking to is "Premonition (Reprise)". It starts out good, sounding as if it's leading up to something grand when in fact it goes nowhere. Other than that though, I find this album to be a wonderful debut by the ever-talented Rhys Fulber and am eagerly looking forward to all future releases. I just hope that his sophmore release doesn't take as long to be made as this did!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars one of my tops for this year, November 15, 2002

By	Shannon B Davis "Nepenthe" (Arlington, MA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Conjure One's debut release is on my list of best CDs released this year. A musical CD can get into this category by being listenable and enjoyable the first time through. Conjure One is the new project from Rhys Fulber, also known for his work in Delerium and Front Line Assembly.

The introductory piece - Damascus - has the feel of an ancient world, and is a slow vocal piece. It reminds me of Dead Can Dance in the vocal stylings.

The second piece, Center of the Sun, has haunting vocals sung by Poe. I love the lyrics - it evokes a medieval atmosphere on top of the trip-hop musical background. Poe's heavenly voice is featured again on Make a Wish. Tears from the Moon features Sinead O'Connor and has a catchy beat for a song about love lost. Tidal Pool and Manic Star are classic Delerium-style tracks. Manic Star has a message too! Redemption has a middle-eastern feel, which Years continues before breaking into pure synthpop-influenced joy.

Recommended to fans of Poe, Portishead, or Delerium. The whole CD is graceful music with an excellent beat, which could be a companion to the dance floor, a long drive, or a romantic evening.