Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Track Listings
| 1. Her Room |
| 2. The Gown |
| 3. Spin The Context |
| 4. Stay Tuned |
| 5. You Know |
| 6. Big Mouth |
| 7. The Diver |
| 8. That's All |
| 9. And Then |
| 10. It Seems We Talk |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
With its dream-like montage of moods and impressive variety of arrangements, Smiling and Waving shows just how far the daughter of Jan Garbarek has come since the 1992 album Velkommen Inn (Come On In). Gone are the Norwegian lyrics and driving, somewhat Euro-pop arrangements. Instead, Smiling and Waving offers a range of convincingly distilled--and delivered--English lyrics, building upon the poetic ambition and achievement revealed on Anja's second release, the 1996 Balloon Mood. At times, Smiling and Waving can bring to mind the work of Kate Bush and Annette Peacock as much as that of Björk. Overall, however, it finds Garbarek establishing her own identity, as much through the shape-shifting arrangements as anything else. Such jazz notables as double-bassist Chris Laurence and saxophonist Theo Travis contribute some fine moments, but apart from the lyrics, the album is mostly remarkable for its mixing and metamorphosing of acoustic and electronic sounds, concert strings and occasional trip-hop grooves, ambient space and judicious sampling. Robert Wyatt's guest appearance on the melancholic "The Diver" fits the overall concept and mood of the album perfectly. --Michael Tucker
Product Description
VIR 724385062223; VIRGIN - Italia;
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By R. Pievaitis
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
having just bought this album via a link from the website [...] i am very pleasantly surprised by the quality of the work.as some of you may have noticed the website i refer to is that of Porcupines Tree,s mainman,the enigmatic Steven Wilson.if you look at the credits it would seem that this work was done in the early 90,s,with Steven Wilson at the production desk.
as you would expect now that you know of S.W,s involvement the production values are unbelievable.there are always strange background noises ( that do not put you off the music - merely enhance it )and FX going on.
this is very late night "jazz noire" if there is such a phrase !?!
buy it and see for yourself.if you have an open mind and like bjork etc etc you are in for a treat.
as you would expect now that you know of S.W,s involvement the production values are unbelievable.there are always strange background noises ( that do not put you off the music - merely enhance it )and FX going on.
this is very late night "jazz noire" if there is such a phrase !?!
buy it and see for yourself.if you have an open mind and like bjork etc etc you are in for a treat.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Quite excellent, dreamy and lush sounding, this album oozes style. Jan Garbarek's daughter's first album has some stylish tunes with tracks 8 and 9 particularly melodic and with warm orchestral arrangements as a backing to a fascinating and soothing vocal. The overall effect is haunting, but not cool.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
3.5 out of 5 stars
13 reviews
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Welcome to the Queen of Ice Palace
26 Oct 2001
By Sandy
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
This album is pure ear candy. This is a collection of sweetest than chocolate pieces, where the fairy voice flirts with ethereal harps, violins, guitars and light electronic sounds. I had the sensation a little impish elf was floating around and whispering to my ear, which can cause some agreeable shivers down the spine.
The album is perfect for meditative moods as the songs are rather slow and laid back. The music style is very difficult to describe, I think it cannot be classified in any categories. One thing is sure: it is not mainstream pop. Comparing Anja to Björk is not really fair. Their voices have nothing in common (Anja is much smoother). The music is not exactly similar. No offense, I love Björk (and recommend her latest "Vespertine", just as all her previews albums). I just believe Anja is standing on her own feet. The comparison stands because both seem to experiment with sounds and instruments.
The light as soap bubbles "Stay Tune" and the dreamy "That's all" are already worn out on my CD, I played them on repeat mode so much. "You know" must have been recorded on a cloud. "Big mouth" has a joyful beat and an impulsive character. "The diver" is atmospheric. "And then" is a perfect example of how those songs sounds at the same time old and new, which makes them timeless. Those are just quick picks, I like the entire album. It was a discovery for me, and I purchased her first release "Balloon Moods" to get more of her.
Listen and make your own opinion, she might become the secret jewel of your collection.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
challenging modern jazz
2 Oct 2003
By Brede T. Trollsaas
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
first time I listened through Anja Garbarek's second album, it was a mixed experience. Instrumentals were minimalistic, largely leaving it up to Anja's frail voice to carry and structure the songs, and although I was impressed enough to buy the album after hearing the first three songs, I was far less impressed with what followed. but playing the CD a couple of more times gave me time to adjust and discover the beautiful neuances that lay close beneath the surface of little gems such as "big mouth", "stay tuned", and "the diver". also, some of the tunes are directly addictive, such as the astonishing and original "I won't hurt you". "Smiling and Waving" is challenging music, and not for the easy listener, but if you're a true music fan, you'll be likely to love this album in time.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Just about perfect.
26 Jan 2007
By Michael Stack
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Audio CD
A dramatic shift from its predecessors, Anja Garbarek's "Smiling & Waving" finds the singer's backgrounds shifting from the pure electronica stew of "Balloon Mood" into a bizarre fusion of electronica sounds and acoustic instruments and orchestras. In part, I suspect some of this has to do with the presence of producer/musician Steven Wilson (of Porcupine Tree and No-Man, the latter of which seems to be clearly an influence on "Balloon Mood"), but also on the strength of performances from musicians as diverse as Wilson, Steven Jansen and Richard Barbieri (Japan) and Mark Hollis (Talk Talk). The blend works well, providing a bizarre context and ever shifting backdrop for Garbarek's often delicate and fluttering vocals.
This diversity of backdrops is probably best illulstrated by "Spin the Context"-- anchored by a startlingly agile bass violin yields to a clarinet and string ensemble, with Garbarek over the top, tentative, uncertain, and yet full of confidence before it all breaks down in the bridge with a shuffling rhythm (played by Jansen on brushes with a stunning amount of taste and subtlety) that bleeds into the chorus. But this sort of dissection could be made of pretty much any piece on here, whether it's the "ethereal industrial" of "The Gown" or the electronica beats-meets-string orchestra of "Big Mouth". On top of all of this, we get just immense vocal performances-- I've not heard anyone come close to the passion that Kate Bush could evoke until I heard "Stay Tuned".
I realize this all comes off as an extraordinary amount of hyperbole, but from the moment I heard this album, with all its quiet fury, I've been pretty much taken by it. Remarkably, I actually think that Garbarek's followup to this, "Briefly Shaking", is her masterwork (thus far), but "Smiling and Waving is not a record to be missed. Highly recommended.
This diversity of backdrops is probably best illulstrated by "Spin the Context"-- anchored by a startlingly agile bass violin yields to a clarinet and string ensemble, with Garbarek over the top, tentative, uncertain, and yet full of confidence before it all breaks down in the bridge with a shuffling rhythm (played by Jansen on brushes with a stunning amount of taste and subtlety) that bleeds into the chorus. But this sort of dissection could be made of pretty much any piece on here, whether it's the "ethereal industrial" of "The Gown" or the electronica beats-meets-string orchestra of "Big Mouth". On top of all of this, we get just immense vocal performances-- I've not heard anyone come close to the passion that Kate Bush could evoke until I heard "Stay Tuned".
I realize this all comes off as an extraordinary amount of hyperbole, but from the moment I heard this album, with all its quiet fury, I've been pretty much taken by it. Remarkably, I actually think that Garbarek's followup to this, "Briefly Shaking", is her masterwork (thus far), but "Smiling and Waving is not a record to be missed. Highly recommended.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 13 reviews
3.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
