Buy Low Price From Here Now
More potpourri than unified high concept, the fourth installment in the Pure Moods series nevertheless provides an interesting collage of acts associated with techno, ambient, alt-pop, and New Age genres. For some listeners, that means the transition from the rhythmic mystical-ethereal vibe of the first four tracks (from Enigma, Mythos, Delerium, and Sarah McLachlan and a splendid piece from Balligomingo) to a trilogy from New Age romanticists ( Secret Garden, Yanni, and pianist Jim Brickman) may seem a little disjointed. Ditto for the segue from George Winston's impressionistic 1980 solo piano piece, "Sea," to a Steve Reich-like minisymphony from Moby). And the concluding Afro-Celt Sound System track, a spirited, mandolin-driven piece with Peter Gabriel on vocals, is a stylistic island unto itself. Still, most fans of easy-listening contemporary music (particularly the adventurous ones) should find this an agreeable assortment of music from artists who infuse their craft with stronger-than-usual spiritual and emotional subtexts. --Terry Wood
Readmore
Technical Details
See more technical details
By Germaine Y. Marshall (Salisbury, MD USA)
I like this compilation well, though not so well as the original Pure Moods or even the third. It's got its fair share of songs that qualify as new age and most of them are enjoyable. The beginning is a bit shaky with a song by Mythos called "November" which has voices heard but no lyrics, followed by an OK tune by Balligomingo, "Purify". I'm happy to say Enigma makes yet another appearance - "Shadows in Silence", as the name implies, is one of the few songs where they don't sing, but it too has voices chanting without forming words. The drums and synthesizers make all the difference in the world, though, since I enjoy it much more than "November". Delirium, whom I hated in Pure Moods II, is also back now with Sarah McLachlan to perform the better, mysterious "Silence". Secret Garden contributes a pleasant melody with "Song from a Secret Garden", and Yanni is back from the last two albums, now sticking solely to his pinao in "One Man's Dream". Eva Cassidy, the singer I've gotten to know well as doing many famous songs whom the US discovered posthumously, does a version of Sting's "Fields of Gold" - it doesn't feel like it fits everything else, but that wouldn't be the only case here and I like it too much to care. Jim Brickman, who has since become one of my favorite performers, followers with one of the shortest but best tracks, "Devotion". Govi does a version of Jim Croce's "Time in a Bottle" with an instrumental, "Garden of Eden". The theme from "Amelie" follows and can be enjoyed, but I can't say for the same of the heavily bass-keys-using "Sea" by George Winston. Fortunately, a better pinao song exists in "God Moving Over the Face of the Waters" by Moby, who had easily the most-enjoyable work on the "Pure Moods Celestial Celebration Album"...it was good they recognized some talent and kept it! Another soundtrack, from "Chocolat", is contributed by Rachel Portman. I've never mistaken "Angel" by Sarah McLachlan for new age, but can't complain since the soothing piano and gentle lyrics actually fit well. It's odd hearing B-Tribe, whom I'm most familiar with when they sing in Spanish, performing an Irish tune like "She Moves Through the Fair", but this too has enough of a pleasing sound as well as a melody that's not too commonplace to have a place here. Craig Armstrong, who played solo on Pure Moods II and was seen in his element (just typical guitar-playing with a modern singer) on the "Celestial Celebrations", is back with Elizabeth Dando to sing "This Love", quiet and profound as anything else. I don't know who sings in Paul Schwartz's "River of Stars", but the effect is the same. The finale came as a pleasant surprise after such quiet since the array of Afro-Celt Soundsystem's instruments and foreign languages in the background of "When You're Falling" matches well the lyrics Peter Gabriel is singing. There's a bit less continunity with the type of feel that the original Pure Moods tried to put out than the last album released, but there's just enough here to keep it pretty enjoyable.
By Lelia O. Elliston Farm (Weston, MA USA)
80% of songs are great, the other 20% are nice but are clearly movie soundtrack-like.
By J. Arnett (Texas)
At the extremely high price of $18+ for this CD, I'm sure glad I went with a re-seller for $8.00. I have all the other Pure Moods and find the music to be both soothing and interesting, but there's nothing new in IV and in fact I'd say the selections are not up to expectations set by listening to the first three.
By Veronica Seeger
I purchased this as a gift and it arrived in a very timely manner and the person loved the gift.
By Thrifty mom (Lancaster, Pa)
It took me til the 4th one to finally break down and by a pure moods cd but i'm glad i did. there are only 1 or 2 songs that i'm not thrilled with but sometimes i'm even in a mood to hear them. i'm more inclined to buy others from the series now. My favorite songs are "november" and "shadows in silence"
Images Product
Buy Pure Moods, Vol. IV Now
0 comments:
Post a Comment