- Audio CD (23 Feb 2004)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Virgin
- ASIN: B0001E5UD2
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 183,725 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Bellissimo |
| 2. Quattra Neon |
| 3. Bliss |
| 4. Heavenly |
| 5. Soleil Soleil |
| 6. Pretty Baby |
| 7. All For Melody |
| 8. Happy And Weak |
| 9. They Died For Beauty |
Product Description
Review
If sweeping, cinematic strings, languorous, continental moods, simultaneous nods to Portishead and Edith Piaf and frequent diversions into romantic melodrama are not your idea of a good time, stop reading right now.
If, however, you cherish all things nostalgic, emotive and well-produced, and like the idea of an album that cyclically pits sadness and pain against light and optimism, then Ilya's debut LP might just be the ticket.
They Died For Beauty is the kind of album that makes Frenchmen sigh and shrug enigmatically: 'C'est un grand melange..." they mutter, "C'est formidable..."
Joanna Swann, Nick Pullin and Dan Brown, the three members of the outfit, hail not from France, but from (where else?) Bristol. Their influences of course hail from all over Europe and beyond, representing many different musical eras along the way, from 70s soundtracks and 50s torch songs to 40s 'chanson' and 90s melting-pot trip hop.
Their super-sophisticated style of orchestral music has already been usurped by advertisers, in particular Cacharel, who used "Bellissimo" the album's lead single - for their latest ad. This has been many people's introduction to their talents.
The track, a gorgeously slow, gently undulating slice of modern troubadour-ism - is a good insight into the rest of the album, certainly in the way it murkily blends old influences with modern production sensibilities and contrastive emotional states.
All the tracks - which bear titles like 'Heavenly', 'Bliss', 'Happy and Weak' - are pretty andpoignantyet varied in density. "Pretty Baby" is especially lugubrious, for example, whereas "Soleil, Soleil" stays - just about - this side of pared down insouciance.
On a more general level however, anything wistful and carefree in the LP is balanced with melancholy brass, plaintive vocals or the pervasive string-laden pathos. The result? A tapestry, weaved from a mixture of light linen and heavy velvet, sometimes translucent, often opaque.
Rising from the mist of this morphing tableau is the siren voice of Swann, which infuses the scene with intellectual panache, other-worldly ethereality and Gallic romanticism. Her wispy refrainroams naturally and effortlessly around the LPlikethe smoke from aGaloise cigarette permeating a crowded salon.
The band's primary genius lies in the way they intertwine and ensconce their myriad influences within and around one another, rendering them only partially visible. In this way they suspend disbelief and transport us, a la Air and Zero 7, to a world that's distant and exotic yet somehow familiar. --Paul Sullivan
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A journey to dreamland,
This review is from: They Died for Beauty [Ltd Edition Digi Pak] (Audio CD)
This is one of the best chilled-out and laid back albums I've ever had the pleasure of listening to. The vocals are reminiscent of Alison Goldfrapp, Shirley Bassey, and Beth Gibbons. This, mixed with delicate but huge sounding orchestral, cinematic symphonies almost makes it sound more like a film score than an 'typical' album. For fans of early Goldfrapp, Zero 7, even Portishead and any chilled out trip hop acts I would definitely recommend this album to you. Its slightly more orchestral and jazz orientated than those acts, but non the less still excellent music to have on in the background when working, at dinner parties, or just before going to bed - it really helps you to relax and drift off. Overall 'They died for beauty' is a beautiful, orchestral, continental-sounding gem of an album and well worth a look.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Beauty endures,
This review is from: They Died for Beauty [Ltd Edition Digi Pak] (Audio CD)
There must be something in the local produce of Bristol for once again it has delivered unto us an inspiring and dreamy group with all the little flourishes, which touch the heart and warm the soul. The debut album from vocalist Joanna Swan, writer Nick Pullen and Producer Dan Brown, gently kneads dramatic John Barry strings with sun kissed acoustics, crisp flattened beats and smoky aromatic vocals. Swan indulges in each individual tale and cinematic overture, feeling not only the pleasure but the pain, ‘Happy and Weak’. Opener ‘Belissimo’ swirls with ambient panache, crying out to be adopted by a car advert. The Mediterranean come Bristol vibe continues on the jazztastic ‘Quattra Neon’ complete with another spellbinding chorus. At times the radiance of Air’s sweet electronic melody and gentle bossa of Gilberto creep up. Certain tracks like ‘Heavenly’ adopt the characteristic big band aplomb of the Portishead canon before Swan swells into a rasping vocal. One listen to ‘Soleil Soleil’ could convince even the weatherman that all is sunny and well. ‘They Died For Beauty’ r Beauty’ closes with some beautiful key changes of the Zero 7 variety. Comparisons aside this is a sonic landscape in which to roam; dynamic sound, lush instrumentation, tender melody and emotive vocals. An enchanting debut beyond downbeat anonymity.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hauntingly Beautiful,
By muso "muso" (uk) - See all my reviews
This review is from: They Died for Beauty [Ltd Edition Digi Pak] (Audio CD)
How to classify this so that others have a reference point to decide whether buy this is a difficult proposition. Is it cinematic trip-hop? Well sort of... Most reminicent of Goldfrapp's "Felt Mountain" and the oft forgotten and overlooked but seminal "Formica Blues" by Mono, this album combines cinematic strings with modern beautiful vocals, up to date treatments, current beats and often a cool jazzy style. Fans of John Barry, David Arnold, Burt Bacharach, Zero 7, Blue States, Air, Telepopmusik, Snooze, Les Jumeaux, Hooverphonic, Bebel Gilberto, more orchestral Drum 'n'Bass (Goldie/LTJ Bukem) and even Portishead may find something to listen to here.Perfect arrangements, nostalgic samples, quality production and being almost completely different from anything you will hear in the mainstream, makes this a five star purchase.
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