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Amazon.co.uk Review
Adiemus IV is going to make a lot of people very happy, keeping the essential Adiemus approach which has proved phenomenally popular over the three previous Adiemus releases from Karl Jenkin's hybrid folk/classical/new age ensemble. However, the subtitle "The Eternal Knot" refers to the fact that some of this music was originally written for the Scottish television series, The Celts and this aspect is going to draw inevitable comparisons with Riverdance. Play the opening track, "Cú Chullain", and there is just no getting away from it (nor is there any possibility of keeping the feet still), the thunderous, exhilarating Irish sound is irrefutable. The comparison runs throughout the album, particularly in the attractively melodic "The Wooing of Étaín", though in arrangements which mix acoustic instruments and massed voices with electronics there is also an echo of Clanad. Ultimately, though, Adiemus IV has its own sometimes ethereal, sometimes traditionally atmospheric, sometimes barnstorming sound; making for a disc which draws on many styles but can not be fitted into any particular pigeon hole. If the densely packed voices sometimes evoke memories of the Swingle Singers, Miriam Stockley's lead vocals float attractively over the soundscape, binding everything together into an evocative Celtic fairy-tale soundtrack. --Gary S. Dalkin
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I was lucky to see the worldpremiere of adiemus 4 LIVE at the royal albert hall in London on sept 28.It was a great show and they played the whole new cd and also songs from the first 3 adiemus cd's. I am a big fan of them since their first cd in 95. This 4th cd has more variation on the instrumentation(accordion, guitar,uillean pipes, harp). It has also a more celtic feeling but in real adiemus style; Miriam Stockley sings the leadvocals like always and she does it fantastic; I would say: buy this record,you won't regret it.
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
As an artist releases more records the temptation to go off in a completely new direction must become overwhelming. Karl Jenkins has not done this. His latest album is an evolution rather than a revolution. There is nothing radically different here but it is done so well that the established Adiemus audience will be happy while new comers will find it accessible. One risk with a move into the "celtic sound" is that this music is going to sound a lot like Riverdance (Oh God No! Michael Flatley comes out of retirement to dance to Riverdance:The Next Generation as composed by Karl Jenkins....) this similarity is most apparent on the sixth track "Saint Declan's Drone". My favourite parts of the album are the quieter moments, Track 7 "Salm O Dewi Sant" is sublime while Track 4 "The wooing of Etain" brings something new to Adiemus in the guitar playing of Martin Taylor which gives a jazz feel to parts of the album. There are a number of tracks that will "hook" you stright away but as with each of the Adiemus albums this is one that will grow on you as you listen to it more.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
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32 reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
THE ETERNAL KNOT - DIFFERENT BUT NEVERTHELESS ENJOYABLE
29 Jan 2001
Format:Audio CD
When I first heard Adiemus "The Eternal Knot" I was a bit taken back by the Celtic feel to the album only because I didn't expect it. However, "The Eternal Knot' feels like a return to Adiemus "Songs of Sanctuary". The raw tribal feeling has returned only with a Celtic twist. There is still a hint of a classical influence to Eternal Knot but it is not overwhelming.
To put it simply I love Adiemus and this album was very enjoyable.
Track One, CU CHULLAIN, is very energetic. It reminds me of "In Caelum Fero" it has that same drive and power behind the music and vocals used. My personal favorites are track 5 "KING OF THE SACRED GROVE", tarck 4 "THE WOOING OF ETAIN". My favorite track however on Eternal Knot would have to be track 11 "CERIDWENS CURSE", This song is very different, even for Adiemus. What makes CERIDWENS CURSE exceptional is the accoustic guitar used during what appears to be the chorus combine that with the singers of Adiemus and we have a upbeat and delightfully wicked song.
You either love or hate Adiemus and The Eternal Knot is no exception.
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
The most reluctant 3-star review I'll probably ever give!
9 Feb 2003
Format:Audio CD
First things first: I am a HUGE fan of Adiemus (own all their albums), Miriam Stockley, and Karl Jenkins. I'd been following the buildup to this album's release, and when I first read it was going to be a soundtrack, I cringed. "Adiemus? Doing a SOUNDTRACK?" I braced for the worst.
It wasn't as horrible as I thought it would be, but it is FAR below earlier Adiemus albums. It starts out all right: "Cu Chullain" is a VERY good piece throughout, and comes close to being worth the price of admission all by itself. The rest of it, however...
The title cut has a very grating, over-loud, fortissimo section toward the end that does not work for me. "Palace of the Crystal Bridge" is admittedly fun, but it doesn't hold up to repeated listenings: I used to love it, but now I usually skip it. "The Dagda" has a KILLER intro, but it wears out its welcome after almost eight minutes.
Is this a *bad* album? Not at all! In fact, if you haven't heard any of Adiemus's albums before, you might want to give this one a listen, knowing that the rest are even better. It's not horrible by any stretch of the imagination, it's just not up to Karl's stellar efforts on earlier Adiemus albums.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Adiemus has become the voice of the Celts!
24 Mar 2001
Format:Audio CD
About a year ago I got "Songs of Sanctuary", which I found to be one of the most beautiful albums I've heard, but this new album by Adiemus is even better. Like their first album, this album has well organized orchestrations, clear vocals by Miriam Stockley, powerful percussion, harmonic recorders, and music in a secret, chanting language. But this album also includes Celtic themes and accompiant. Davy Spillane plays uillean pipes and sometimes the music includes accordian and harp. The songs all relate to mythology and religion of Ireland and Wales. The melody and harmony came together so well and the whole atmosphere and mood is very calm and highly spirited. Some of my favorites include "Cu Chullain", "The Dagda", and "Hermit of the Rock". Many people have compared this album to Enya's "The Celts", and don't find too much of a difference between the two. Both albums have Celtic themes about heroes, saints, and mythological places. They may be different in style, but they are very much the same in meaning. So I don't see why people should be so critical of this album. It's just as melodiac as their other albums, but this album contains more meaning. I've always loved Karl Jenkins' way of blending classical and African music, and now I think he has done a fine job in combining these styles with Celtic music.
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