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Amazon.co.uk Review
In choosing to cover the music of John Dowland (1563-1626), who is known as the "melancholy madrigalist" for his output of cheerful ditties like "Flow My Tears," Police bandleader Sting has entered into a whole new realm of austere eeriness. Originally inspired by the gift of a lute, the rock superstar and activist sings the songs - deliciously sweet and tender or spirited by turn - accompanying himself with Edin Karamazov on lute and archlute. For listeners accustomed to hearing material of this period interpreted by rigorously trained early music stylists, especially countertenors and the like, Sting's sometimes tight-jawed, chest-heavy vocals may seem amateurish. It's undeniable that in four-part harmonies, the singer, tightly overdubbed, comes across like a combination of the Swingle Singers and Queen (as in Freddie Mercury's crew, NOT Elizabeth Windsor). But it's important to remember that music of this period was routinely heard as a casual diversion in private homes, even more often than at Court. It was considered a crucial social skill to be able to join in with an adequate degree of skill, but not everyone was able to negotiate the perilous melodic twists and turns typical of the era's music. With this in mind, the overall effect is of a candle-lit, postprandial entertainment in the home of an English gentleman. Muttered readings from Dowland's letters and brief snippets of sampled birdsong aside, this is a courageous effort, displaying heartfelt admiration for the composer and a considerable degree of earnest charm. --Christina Roden
Product Description
STING Songs From The Labyrinth (2006 Taiwanese issue CD album in which Sting ventures into new musical territory with an album featuring the music of acclaimed Elizabethan songwriter John Dowland [1563-1626] and sees him joined by much-admiredlutenist Edin Karamazov in what he describes as a soundtrack to Dowlands life in words and musicas he incorporates extracts from an extraordinary letter into this album as short recitations re-creating a flavour of Dowlands life and
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
26 of 26 people found the following review helpful
Format:Vinyl
Critics seem to have been sharpening their knives for this release. Certainly the circumstantial case against any rock singer recording a "classical" album for Deutsche Grammophon is pretty strong, as those who remember Elvis Costello's album with Anne Sophie Von Otter will have cause to agree. The fact is, however, that although the songs of John Dowland have been recorded many, many times most of those who attack this album will be basing their complaints on a personal antipathy to Sting rather than any concerns with the actual performance.
Lute duties here are principally handled by Edin Karamazov: not the leading lutanist in this repertoire (that would probably be Anthony Rooley) but perfectly competent in material that is in any case not virtuosic. Dowland's songs do not require outstanding, classically-trained vocals, and Sting's interpretations are perfectly acceptable, with some nice differentiation of style from one song to another. They are also idiomatic, so fans of Sting's rock voice will have to put up with him singing in a mannered (though still fairly light) vocal style.
If you are in the market for a Dowland set, I can't see why you would buy this one, and there is a slight problem created by the introduction of spoken interludes (extracts from Dowland's writings) which spoil the programming slightly. That said, I personally bought this disc for curiosity value, and seen in that light it is well worth the investment.
Lute duties here are principally handled by Edin Karamazov: not the leading lutanist in this repertoire (that would probably be Anthony Rooley) but perfectly competent in material that is in any case not virtuosic. Dowland's songs do not require outstanding, classically-trained vocals, and Sting's interpretations are perfectly acceptable, with some nice differentiation of style from one song to another. They are also idiomatic, so fans of Sting's rock voice will have to put up with him singing in a mannered (though still fairly light) vocal style.
If you are in the market for a Dowland set, I can't see why you would buy this one, and there is a slight problem created by the introduction of spoken interludes (extracts from Dowland's writings) which spoil the programming slightly. That said, I personally bought this disc for curiosity value, and seen in that light it is well worth the investment.
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Vinyl
From the outset let me say that I have always been a huge fan of Sting, and of John Dowland. But I was unsure that the two could possibly go together. Having listened to the CD several times now, I am still unsure but the idea is growing on me.
Let's face it, Sting is not the world's best vocalist, his breathy nasal voice being well-suited to ska and light jazz, but ultimately tending to be tiresome. The problem is not just his voice, but perhaps more his odd vowel sounds which have always been a little unnatural and that is very obvious here with his voice rather forward in the mix.
So my first thought was that there are many very beautiful renderings of this material by specialists like Ian Partridge and Sting's offering seemed to add nothing to the corpus. In fact, I thought, I could probably sing this stuff better. But that's to fall for the great myth of period music, which is that today's highly trained professional musicians are at all representative of how this music might have been performed in its own day. Of course, they are not. This is music for the 16th century everyman, which would have been sung by minstrels and troubadours, with voices possibly more like Sting's than not. So there's actually a curious authenticity to this.
The lutenist plays with vigour, and whilst technically not the best I've heard, imbues the music with energy and passion. The readings in between songs from Dowland's letters and diaries are interesting, biut somewhat tokenistic. I'd like to have heard far more, or none at all. And the level of the speaking voice is quite low, which means that to actually hear what is said, especially, say, in the car, you have to crank up the volume to the point that the next vocal entry is too loud.
So to the classical purist, this will not satisfy, but to fans of Sting who are perhaps curious about renaissance music, it might be just the ticket. Have a listen and make up your own mind.
Let's face it, Sting is not the world's best vocalist, his breathy nasal voice being well-suited to ska and light jazz, but ultimately tending to be tiresome. The problem is not just his voice, but perhaps more his odd vowel sounds which have always been a little unnatural and that is very obvious here with his voice rather forward in the mix.
So my first thought was that there are many very beautiful renderings of this material by specialists like Ian Partridge and Sting's offering seemed to add nothing to the corpus. In fact, I thought, I could probably sing this stuff better. But that's to fall for the great myth of period music, which is that today's highly trained professional musicians are at all representative of how this music might have been performed in its own day. Of course, they are not. This is music for the 16th century everyman, which would have been sung by minstrels and troubadours, with voices possibly more like Sting's than not. So there's actually a curious authenticity to this.
The lutenist plays with vigour, and whilst technically not the best I've heard, imbues the music with energy and passion. The readings in between songs from Dowland's letters and diaries are interesting, biut somewhat tokenistic. I'd like to have heard far more, or none at all. And the level of the speaking voice is quite low, which means that to actually hear what is said, especially, say, in the car, you have to crank up the volume to the point that the next vocal entry is too loud.
So to the classical purist, this will not satisfy, but to fans of Sting who are perhaps curious about renaissance music, it might be just the ticket. Have a listen and make up your own mind.
37 of 40 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I must admit, being more of a fan of 16th Century music than Sting, I was very much intrigued to hear what a modern rock musician would make of a composer such as Dowland, and having heard his verion of "Come again" twice on the radio and once on the TV, I decided that it was worth getting. In many ways I am what could be referred to as a "classical snob", a believer in trained and authentic performance, but in todays world of classical music where only the flawless performances seem to be worth mentioning, I find it refreshing to hear this music performed by someone with little classical training. When you imagine how popular Dowland was in his own time, it seems fitting that Sting should be singing these songs today, presenting them as they would most likely have been heard back then. And if that doesn't sway you, you only have to read the inlay notes and listen to his clear articulation to see how much Sting respects the old traditions and wanted to do his best (in his own way) for the sake of the music.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A courageous effort from an old musical master!
Many true Sting fans will know Sting wanted to make this album for over 20 years, thus its seasoned well in his soul for a great many years. Read more
Published 4 months ago by David S. Austin
Serious Listening!
I've become a serious listener to Sting in his later years. This is a very engaging album - needs carful listening to in peace and quiet.
Published 5 months ago by Anthony Shields
What on earth was he thinking?
As I'm currently listening to a lot of Dowland interpretations I was curious to hear what Sting would make of these songs, but alack, the resulting sow's ear from a silk purse is... Read more
Published 8 months ago by M. A. Tovey
songs from the Labyrinth
This CD is not what you would expect from Sting, but it is brilliant back music, I would play it more at Christmas time as its that type of music.
Published 16 months ago by Norma Jean
sting goes elizabethan
This is not all by Sting, but plenty of it is by him. Lute playing and singing, both carefully aligning with the styles of the period. Read more
Published 19 months ago by J. Herbert
BELOW AVERAGE TANTRIC MUSIC
I remember reading in a newspaper, a few years ago and a teacher saying to his pupil: "you have the worst singing voice I have ever heard in my life". Read more
Published on 5 May 2010 by Jose L. Teixeira Ribeiro
"Hark, you shadows that in darkness dwell"
I prefer `classical' music to rock, but am not a lover of John Dowland's compositions; I prefer Sting's! So please bear this in mind when reading what follows. Read more
Published on 28 Jun 2009 by Nicholas Casley
stung by the vocals
Oh dear. I really can't stand listening to Sting singing these songs. What on earth was Katia Labeque doing, recommending Sting should sing Dowland, as the blurb states in the... Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2009 by Hirondelle
Turning in his grave
This 're-imagining' of some of the best works of one of England's most important composers is a woeful failure. Read more
Published on 5 Nov 2008 by MildCreativeBreeze
Argh...he's doing my ears in!!!!
Sting simply can't sing this stuff well..he sounds awful! This lute ego fest is a really annoying crock of self-indulgent ****! Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2008 by Mr C in London
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