- Audio CD (29 Jun 1998)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Dreyfus
- ASIN: B000007TPS
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 610,090 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. A United Earth I |
| 2. La Memoire De L'Humain |
| 3. Hope |
| 4. Ensemble (Understand) |
| 5. Crimes |
| 6. A United Earth II |
| 7. Scots Are Right |
| 8. Ever |
| 9. Kenavo Glenmor |
| 10. Una's Love |
| 11. Aet On (Into The Universe's Breath) |
| 12. A United Earth III |
Product Description
From Amazon.com
Breton based Celtic harpist Alan Stivell describes "eunn Douar (one Earth)" as revealing "a world of paradoxes, where similarities are as powerful as contrasts," and this profoundly spiritual work contains plenty of both. A 25-year veteran virtuoso of the harp, Stivell turns his focus to songs of "world consciousness," his reedy vocals abetted by a diverse cross section of artists including Youssou N'Dour, Khaled, John Cale, and the Chieftains' Paddy Moloney. The songs--sung in Gaelic, French, and English--of nationalism, unity with diversity, and individual freedom are stage set with kora, whistles, bombards, accordian, and the usual periphery of rock instruments, expertly and fittingly produced in places by Afro Celt Sound System's Simon Emmerson and Martin Russell and also Pascale Le Berre--Pascal. One Earth is an intense and individualistic statement of great integrity. --Derek Rath
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The Founding Father of both Celtic rock and World Music genres, Alan Stivell, with this album, delivered the definitive masterpeice of both music styles. Un Douar (One World in English translation) Is a heady blend of African, Indian, and, of course, celtic music featuring the stars of world music such as Youssou n'dour, The Afrocelts, Jim Kerr and many others. An indispensible album for those of you who like Celtic or World stuff. Rocking, Jazzy, Soulful, Psychedelic, powerful and emotive, it is all of these things. Vastly underrated (both album and artist), deserves to be discovered by a wider audience. Without this man, much of todays celtic and world music artists wouldnt exist.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
At long last a *great* album from Stivell, after a series of interesting and adventurous but flawed projects. 1 Douar is on a par with Stivell's best from the 1970s, but in the spirit of 90s world music fusion (the only flirting with rock coming in an astonishing collaboration with Velvet Underground's John Cale - how on earth did these two musicians' paths cross?).
From its scintillating opening track "United World 1" guesting Youssou 'N Dour, to the lush lyrical tones of its last numbers, the album showcases Stivell's inventiveness both in rhythm and melody, and his sureness of touch in dramatic arrangement. Happily, the harp resounds throughout the album, sometimes in melodic lead, often in rhythmic counterpoint. Beautifully produced (in part by Afro-Celt wizard Simon Emmerson), the new technologies enhance rather than drown the whole. Sampling is intelligent and compelling (particularly the late Goadec sisters in "La Memoire de L'Humain"), and even the wacky "Scots Are Right", which could have shown Stivell at his cringing ranting worst, has a playfulness and an experimental deftness that wins you over (helped by some good smoky vocals by Jim Kerr, ex-Simple Minds). The two elegies (one to recently deceased Breton bard Glenmor, with a superb contribution from Chieftains' piper Paddy Moloney) are built on achingly beautiful, wistful melodies. Irish classic "Una Bhan", chanted in sean-nos style by Breda Mayock, emerges from Stivell's own English variant, set against a hypnotic harp loop, and flows into a majestic crescendo of pipeband drones (which then simply subside - a superb touch). Other winners are the wonderful Breton/Algerian kan-ha-diskan/Rai fusion "Understand" sung with Khaled, and the lovely hypnotic "United World 2".
The political optimism at the heart of the album celebrating identity and diversity in the global village ("douar" means world in Breton and village in Arabic) is matched by the musical exuberance of Stivell and his guests. Twenty-five years after promoting the musical adventurism that would become "world music", Stivell proves here that he can still reinvent himself, still surprise and still captivate. This is his best album since "Dublin".
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
2 reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Stivell back on triumphant form
20 Jan 2000
Format:Audio CD
At long last a *great* album from Stivell, after a series of variously interesting and adventurous but flawed projects. 1 Douar is on a par with Stivell's best from the 1970s, but in the spirit of 90s world music fusion (the only flirting with rock coming in an astonishing collaboration with Velvet Underground's John Cale - how on earth did these two musicians' paths cross! ).
From its scintillating opening track "United World 1" guesting Youssou 'N Dour, to the lush lyrical tones of its last numbers, the album showcases Stivell's inventiveness both in rhythm and melody, and his sureness of touch in dramatic arrangement. Happily, the harp resounds throughout the album, sometimes in melodic lead, often in rhythmic counterpoint. Beautifully produced (in part by Afro-Celt wizard Simon Emmerson), the new technologies enhance rather than drown the whole. Sampling is intelligent and compelling (particularly the late Goadec sisters in "La Memoire de L'Humain"), and even the wacky "Scots Are Right", which could have showcased Stivell at his cringing ranting worst, has a playfulness and an experimental deftness that wins me over (helped by some good smoky vocals by Jim Kerr, ex-Simple Minds). The two elegies (one to recently deceased Breton bard Glenmor, with a superb contribution from Chieftains' piper Paddy Moloney) are built on achingly beautiful, wistful melodies. Irish classic "Una Bhan", chanted in sean-nos style by Breda Mayock, emerges from Stivell's own English variant, set against a hypnotic harp loop, and flows into a majestic crescendo of pipeband drones (which then simply subside - a superb touch of restraint). Other winners are the wonderful Breton/Algerian kan-ha-diskan/Rai fusion "Understand" sung with Khaled, and the lovely hypnotic "United World 2".
The political optimism at the heart of the album celebrating identity and diversity in the global village ("douar" means world in Breton and village in Arabic) is matched by the musical exuberance of Stivell and his guests. Twenty-five years after promoting the musical adventurism that would become "world music", Stivell proves here that he can still reinvent himself, still surprise and still captivate. This is his best album since "Dublin".
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Celtic fusion, voice like Bono, arrangements like Peter Gabriel
30 July 2005
Format:Audio CD
Alan Stivell is a Breton (the Celts on the French side of the Channel) musician. The music sounds a bit like Irish Folk/World fusion.
One great strength of this album is that the 11 tracks each have a distinct sound, thanks to collaboration with some great singer/instrumentalists of World music and widely versatile arrangements.
If you like Peter Gabriel's arrangements and Bono's singing voice, you will probably like this album.
One great strength of this album is that the 11 tracks each have a distinct sound, thanks to collaboration with some great singer/instrumentalists of World music and widely versatile arrangements.
If you like Peter Gabriel's arrangements and Bono's singing voice, you will probably like this album.
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
