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33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Scala / Escala - whatever you call them, listen to them, 25 May 2009
Whilst not forgetting that there are already artists who do a similar thing - Bond, anyone? - Escala (formerly known as Scala before their rise to fame) are one of the classier music acts to come out of Britian's Got Talent and their album doesn't disappoint, with some great tunes, many of which you may recognise from use in films, or as background music in television shows or adverts.
"Requiem for a Tower" - The tower in question is because this song was used in a Lord of The Rings film trailer, I'm told, but you'll have heard this music numerous times on television programmes such as, erm, Britain's Got Talent.
"Palladio" - Although described on Amazon as "Escala's signature tune" (needless to say because they performed it on the programme), this beautiful Karl Jenkins composition was previously best known as "Allegretto" by Bond. I have to say, Escala's version is better and has more integrity, and as a track it's probably why most people will buy this album.
"Kashmir" - Brilliant storming piece featuring Slash (Guns N' Roses) on guitar. Not your typical classical music but, hey, who cares?
"Finding Beauty" - A less known song than some of the others, but a surprise highlight.
"Children" - Beautiful dance/classic fusion of the Robert Miles chillout classic. Whatever happened to him?
"Live and Let Die" - Better than you'd expect a string quartet to do, but still makes you want to dig out the Paul McCartney original. I'd have left it off, I'm afraid.
"Chi Mai" - Instantly recognisable classic staple by Ennio Morricone, done full justice by the band.
"Feeling Good" - Odd choice for the album, and perhaps doesn't work quite as well as imagined.
"Sarabande" - I think this is a cover of a Sarah Brightman song, but might be wrong.
"Clubbed to Death" - Another of those songs you're sure you've heard somewhere. Very good choice as a build up to the final track.
"Adagio for Strings" - Samuel Barber's classic, and a popular choice for classical musicians and dance music masters alike. Not my favourite version, and because it's one of my favourite pieces I've heard many, but a fantastic way nevertheless to end a highly assured and terrifically enjoyable album.
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14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Need to step out of Bond's shadow, 28 May 2009
It was obvious that this group were going to be successful. Why? If you look a few years back you will find the answer in the embodiment of a string-quartet named Bond. They were an enormously successful classical crossover act, one of the few that sold extremely well in America. They were exactly as Escala are now: a sexy, leggy, string-quartet that punched out popular tunes on their custom made string instruments with a multi-techno layered production. Other bands came and went whilst Bond were still active (interestingly, Wild was one of them, two members of which are now in Escala) but Bond truly had the market. Bond, however, quit whilst they were ahead and left the music scene long before the public were ready for them to do so. They were lamented, and by the time it was clear that Bond really had disappeared, the public had missed the boat with the other quartets who had since disbanded or had been dropped.
So the string-quartet has been a gap just waiting to be filled up over the past few years, and what better way to fill it than with a group that are an exact replica of Bond and burst into the scene in one of the biggest promotional shows in the UK? Yes, Escala had success served to them on a plate but are they any good?
In classic Cowell style who can only emulate and not innovate, he has simply reproduced the tried and tested formula that Bond produced. The tracklisting is desperately unoriginal with the typical crossover material such as 'Kashmir', 'Palladio' and 'Sarabande', which quite frankly, are no different to Bond's renditions. Whilst many arrangements are quite uninspired, Robert Miles's 'Children' is well executed as is the instantly recognisable 'Requiem For A Tower'. The shame is that you may feel you are playing the soundtrack to Britain's Got Talent as some of the songs has been used relentlessly on the show. It rather taints the material.
There are only two respectable classical standards on here, 'Chi Mai' and 'Adagio For Strings' (you can include Handel's 'Sarabande' if you like, though the piece is easily manipulated for techno influences), and thankfully, they are treated with respect in their production (only a mild drum machine). Sadly their actual performance of 'Adagio For Strings' seems a bit static and I didn't lose myself in it as I have with other renditions.
If you are new to classical crossover, a lot of this may seem quite new and special in which case, good for you, but for listeners of Bond, Vanessa-Mae and Lucia Micarelli this has all been done before. If this band really wants to replace Bond, the best thing to do is to record different songs from them. It's common sense. No Bond fan wants to hear these songs again - they already have them. The good thing about Escala is that Bond's later albums were immersed in computer wizardry and the strings could barely be heard, this is not the case with Escala; they are never drowned out by drum machines. Even so, I hope for a little bit more originality from their next album.
If you're disappointed with the drum-machine trick, there is another string quartet on the market with considerbly less publicity called Raven who are probably the best out there at the moment. One of its members is renowned violinist's Nicola Benedetti's sister!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the best albums of the year so far..., 25 May 2009
I was totally blown away by this album. When purchasing, I never expected it to be so good, but, listening to it for the first time, it turly was something special. There are no bad tracks on the album, and it crosses classical with contempary music in stunning fashion. I'd urge anyone, whatever their taste in music, to buy this simply brilliant album.
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