Return to Central [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Japanese edition of 2001 album includes three exclusive bonus tracks that don't parallel the Aussie edition, 'Protection' (HR 16 Version), 'The European' (12 Inch Version) & 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.

An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Ring introduction critique
  • FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE
  • Welcome back to a classic analysis
  • Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle
  • Very Functional
 An Introduction to Der Ring des Nibelungen
Deryck Cooke , Georg Solti , Wiener Philharmoniker , Anita Valkki , Berit Lindholm , Birgit Nilsson , Brigitte Fassbaender , Christa Ludwig , Claire Watson , Claudia Hellmann , Dame Gwyneth Jones , Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau , Eberhard Wächter , George London , Gerhard Stolze , Gottlob Frick , Grace Hoffmann , Gustav Neidlinger , Hans Hotter , Helen Watts , Helga Dernesch , Hetty Plumacher , Ira Malaniuk , James King , Jean Madeira , Joan Sutherland , Kirsten Flagstad , Kurt Böhme , Lucia Popp , Marga Höffgen , Marilyn Tyler , Maureen Guy , Oda Balsborg , Paul Kuen , Régine Crespin , Set Svanholm , Vera Little , Vera Schlosser , Waldemar Kmentt , Walter Kreppel , and Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000424H
Release Date: 2005-09-13

Tracks:

  1. Of All Great Musical Compositions... (Examples 1-4)
  2. The Fundamental Symbol... (Examples 5-11)
  3. Returning Now To The Nature Motive... (Examples 6, 12-16)
  4. A Number Of Further Motives... (Examples 5, 17-21)
  5. A Second, Much Smaller Family... (Examples 22-25)
  6. So Much For Nature. (Examples 26-38)
  7. The Cause Of The Deterioration... (Examples 39-44)
  8. The Other Transformation... (Examples 45-48)
  9. Several Other Motives... (Examples 49-52)
  10. Two Further Motives... (Examples 41, 53-61)
  11. The Basic Motive Associated With The Spear... (Examples 62-68)
  12. Along Another, More Complex Line... (Examples 69-72)
  13. In Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 69, 73-75)
  14. Returning Now To Act Two Of Walkure... (Examples 76-79)
  15. Love Is Another Of The Central Symbols... (Examples 80-83)
  16. Later In The Same Scene... (Examples 84-87)
  17. Freia's Motive Has Two Independent Segments... (Examples 88-91)
  18. The Label 'Flight'... (Example 92)
  19. When Fasolt, In Scene Two Of Rhinegold... (Examples 93-98)
  20. A Little Later In The Interlude... (Examples 99-103)

Tracks:

  1. The Other New Motive... (Examples 104-109)
  2. There Are Several Independent Love-Motives... (Examples 110-114)
  3. The Characters In Whose Lives... (Examples 115-120)
  4. One Further Motive Belongs... (Example 121)
  5. The Sword Motive Recurs... (Examples 122-130)
  6. Ironically, This Phrase... (Examples 131-135)
  7. Closely Associated With Gutrune's Motive... (Examples 136-140)
  8. Here We Come To The End... (Examples 141-146)
  9. Complemtary To This Symbol... (Examples 147-149)
  10. One Last Central Symbol... (Examples 150-157)
  11. One Further Motive Connected... (Examples 158-161)
  12. There Are One Or Two Motives... (Examples 162-168)
  13. These Motives Of Alberich And Mime... (Examples 169-171)
  14. Quite A Number Of The Subsidiary Motives... (Examples 172-176)
  15. Besides This Family Of Motives... (Examples 177-180)
  16. Our Final Example... (Examples 10, 181, 182)
  17. In The Final Scene Of Gotterdammerung... (Examples 181-183)
  18. Even More Masterly... (Examples 184-188)
  19. Now If We Return... (Examples 189-191)
  20. This Masterly Way... (Examples 192, 193)

Amazon.com

When Wagner set the Ring to music, he intended the orchestra to act in the fashion of a chorus from a classic Greek tragedy--setting the mood and commenting on the action. In order to allow a nonverbal musical line to reflect on the plot, Wagner developed a psychologically and musically complex symbology to communicate his thoughts to the listener. From the beginning the Ring has spawned numerous written commentaries on the relationships of the motif structure, but by using examples from the Decca Ring recording, Deryck Cooke's thoughtful spoken commentary is by far the most accessible guide for either the fledgling Ring enthusiast or the seasoned veteran. --Christian C. Rix

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Ring introduction critique.......2006-11-04

This is very worthwhile, at the same time it requires time, patience and attention, but it does provide some keys to better enjoyment of a sensational piece of music.

5 out of 5 stars FASCINATING STUDY FOR NOVICES AND AFFICIONADOS ALIKE.......2006-08-16

This may look an intimidating, daunting and dull prospect - a 2+ hour lecture on the motifs in the Ring. Don't be put off. Whether you're a relative novice to the Ring and want to find out what it's all about, more experienced with a desire to understand the composer's methods better or an afficionado who thinks he knows it all inside out, there is great pleasure as well as elucidation to be had from this set. Originally made to accompany the Decca Solti Ring, it contains a multitude of musical illustrations taken from those recordings as well as some specially recorded by Solti just for this Introduction.

It wasn't the first time this has been tried. The famous HMV sets from the late 20's also included recorded examples of over 100 motifs. (These, by the way, are available as part of the Pearl reissue of those wonderful HMV recordings). What that set lacked was the wonderful insights as well as the approachability of the talk by Deryck Cooke. Cooke was a great and much missed musicologist - a Mahler expert responsible for the performing edition of the Tenth Symphony still most played today, a fascinating explorer into the nature of music's basic building-blocks in his excellent book, The Language of Music, and an inspiring and elucidating critic of Wagner's work as shown by the fascinating book he left unfinished at his death, I Saw the World End.

On these CDs he does much more than list the leitmotifs and identify them as calling-cards. He shows the amazingly integrated and organic growth of the musical material that Wagner uses throughout his vast work. He demonstrates how motifs can change their sense and meaning as they evolve through the drama. And he shows how the complex combinations of motifs can radically advance both the musical and the dramatic narrative of the piece. There are even places where he corrects the misinterpretation of some of the motifs that had become ingrained from early commentators' false labels.

This set should engage and enlighten anyone with an interest in Wagner's huge and inexhaustible tetralogy. Do give it a try - no matter how far down the road to Wagnerianism you are.

4 out of 5 stars Welcome back to a classic analysis.......2006-05-28

Deryck Cooke's lecture series upon THE RING is almost as much a classic by now as the Solti RING cycle, with which it was originally issued on LP, and from which it derives its musical examples. The difference is that whereas the Solti RING has been continuously in print ever since it was completed, and was among the first opera sets to benefit from the CD revolution, the Cooke analysis was for long almost totally unobtainable. Now we have it back. It should be welcomed: it is a classic. Cooke's mellow, deep voice with the hint of a Celtic burr - which made him ideal on BBC radio - patiently explains Wagner's melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic metamorphoses to such good effect that if you own this recording, you really require no other RING analysis. (A pity about the abrupt beginnings and endings of too many vocal and orchestral illustrations, though.) Musicology lost a fine, sensitive thinker with Cooke's premature death in 1976.

If all you want is dilettantish baby food, there are plenty of dumbed-down Wagner commentaries on the market, stretching from Anna Russell's famous monologue (which doesn't pretend to be anything other than a parody aimed at morons) to the latest standard-issue "Wagner-was-a-Nazi-boo-hiss" feuilleton (which, unfortunately, does). Without reasonable score-reading skill you will find Cooke useless, however diligently you have ploughed through Marx, Jung, Freud, or other gurus purportedly relevant to THE RING. Cooke expects you to use your brains and your musical sense. Quelle horreur. At today's BBC his "elitism" would render him unemployable.

5 out of 5 stars Essential for Understanding Wagner's Ring Cycle.......2006-05-15

I originally bought this set on vinyl in the early 70s when I discovered the Ring in college. I studied the records and booklet assiduously, and after about three run-throughs I finally started getting it. Wow! Thirty-five years later, I still remember Mr. Cooke's analyses of various motive families, and I don't know how I could have mastered and loved the Ring without him. I now own this set on CD and listen again on the rare occasion of attending a Ring performance. My wife calls me a "Ring nut," but of course I'm nuts about many other things as well.

Bottom line, buy this set and study it if the Ring has captivated you as it has countless others. The presentation is dry, but sticking with it brings measureless and longlasting rewards.

4 out of 5 stars Very Functional.......2006-03-19

This CD set is excellent for what it sets out to do: present the leitmotives of the Ring according to their relationship to one another and their role in developing both characters and plotlines. Deryck Cooke's lectures on each motive are very insightful, very helpful at cueing the listener into the semantic aspect of Wagner's orchestral writing. The one drawback is that the musical examples are a bit jarring. Without fade-ins or -outs, the engineering is quite barbaric. And though the orchestra was, I believe, conducted by Solti, and is beautifully done, the vocal performances can be quite unpleasant. Point being: this is not background music, but in accomplishing what it sets out to do, it is very successful, and I don't know of anything else like it.
Return to Central
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Wow
  • Return To Something Else
  • like the Spice Girls, except good
  • Bis leave punk-pop snark for something like sweep
  • Didn't know what to expect--I was very pleasantly surprised!
 Return to Central
Bis
Manufacturer: Spin Art
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
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  1. Plastique Nouveau
  2. Social Dancing
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ASIN: B00005NVJT
Release Date: 2001-09-18

Tracks:

  1. What You're Afraid Of
  2. Silver Spoon
  3. Black Pepper
  4. The End Starts Today
  5. Protection
  6. Two Million
  7. Chicago
  8. Metal Box
  9. We're Complicated
  10. Robotic
  11. A Portrait From Space

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Wow.......2005-06-07

The difference between this and Social Dancing: Social Dancing is highly offbeat pop with an inescapably cultural influence. Return to Central is offbeat with an inescapably cultural influence, and it doesn't even pretend to be pop. This is easily the grittiest, edgiest, and (yes) darkest work they've ever done. And all I can say, really is...cool. ("Hella" cool, if you prefer.) Not for everybody and certainly doesn't fit anybody's definition of pop...but then, that's pretty much always been the point, hasn't it?

Lyrics could be a *little* more understandable, and the "filler" tracks, Black Pepper and Metal Box, are just redundant. Outstanding work otherwise. Damn shame it ended up being their swan song.

3 out of 5 stars Return To Something Else.......2003-11-29

Despite moderate critical success and subsequent backlash in the mid-nineties, Bis has lately received most of its attention for its theme to the Powerpuff Girls. Whether you think these bug-eyed cartoon superheroes are too hip for TV or you don't get what all the marketing and hype is about, your opinion on the Cartoon Network's cash-cow is going to be the same as your opinion of this Scottish disco-pop trio. Spreading their low-fi Casio cheer Bis is new wave for the new millennium.

4 out of 5 stars like the Spice Girls, except good.......2002-06-29

I have been a passionate Bis fan for a couple of years now, since I heard "New Transistor Heroes" on the recommendation/shoving of a friend. Their lighthearted, but clear-eyed approach to lyrical subjects like self-esteem and gender politics meshed beautifully with truly impressive songwriting and musicianship from such young people. "Return To Central" is hugely different in sound and subject from Bis's chipper early days (I hesitate to say "snarky" again, but it's true). Certainly there is a maturity to the sound - the production is almost too lush and dense, and the formerly happy shrieking of Manda Rin and John Disco has been transformed into careful singing and harmony. The end product is just a hair away from being brilliant - perhaps a different producer would have helped bring this to fruition. As it is, it's sort of a muddle - a little too adult-contempo friendly for my tastes, much like the Spice Girls' better written and produced songs, except uniformly gloomy in outlook and sound. It's neither fish nor fowl, and after six enthusiastic listens, I can't say that it's one of my favorites.

4 out of 5 stars Bis leave punk-pop snark for something like sweep.......2002-04-18

On first (greatly anticipated) listen to Bis's latest album I lamented that it wasn't like Social Dancing, a disc I loved because it was so immediately catchy and funny and snarky. The guitars have pretty much gone on Return to Central, as has the punk-pop aesthetic (some might have called it adolescent, but it was sure fun) in favor of what I can only call an attempt at sweep--orchestration, larger, weightier sounds. And I like it. But I like it in different ways from the ways in which I liked Social Dancing. Sometimes when a band's new release is very different from what fans have come to expect the attempt is bemoaned for not giving the public what it wants, but that's not really the point, is it? Bis literally ARE maturing, folks--their first releases came out as they were teenagers after all. What is wonderful about Return to Central is that the band's evolution seems organic and not forced. On first listen I found maybe only two songs immediately catchy--"Silver Spoon" and "Chicago" (perhaps unusual in that neither are lead-sung by Manda) because they both sport memorable choruses and BPM's. All of these songs are longer than the ones on Social Dancing, but they're also somewhat more contemplative--not that Bis has forgotten the dancefloor at all; the songs simply move you in different ways. The songs all feature downright lush orchestration and a clear attention to the DJ boards, and many of the songs end on absolutely beautiful, memorable, and cinematically sweeping notes. So this may be different for Bis given what we've heard from them in the past, but theirs is a musical evolution that is richly rewarding. I'm very glad I bought the disc.

5 out of 5 stars Didn't know what to expect--I was very pleasantly surprised!.......2002-03-12

I bought this album after hearing "Silver Spoon" played several times on my local cable alternative music channel. It's a great sing-along sort of a song and very catchy and I just let my curiosity lead me to purchasing the entire album. Wow! This is easily the best discovery I've made since Skindive's debut album. The music is electronic-based, which is, I guess, something of a departure for the group (based on other comments), but I have to wonder if it isn't an inspired departure. This is melodic, expansive, room-filling music that just gets better and better on repeated listens. I can't really speak to the long-time fan, but if you haven't heard Bis before, give them a try. This is one of the best albums I've heard in the past couple of years.
Return to Central
Average customer rating: Not rated
    		Return to Central
    Bis
    Manufacturer: Tilt
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Alternative DanceAlternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
    RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B00005Q4AA
    Release Date: 2001-10-01

    Tracks:

    1. What Youre Afraid Of
    2. Silver Spoon
    3. Black Pepper
    4. The End Starts Today
    5. Protection
    6. Two Million
    7. Chicago
    8. Metal Box
    9. Were Complicated
    10. Robotic
    11. A Portrait From Space
    12. Make It Through
    13. Dont Let The Rain Come Down

    Album Description

    Aussie exclusive edition of the Scottish indie rock act's 2001 album includes two bonus tracks, 'Make It Through' & 'Don't Let The Rain Come Down'. 13 tracks in all.

    Album Details

    The Violent Energy and Hyperactivity of 'the New Trasistor Heroes', the Polished Dancefloor Pop of 'social Dancing' and the World Weary Cynicism with an Electro Groove of Mini Album 'music for a Stranger World' have Been Distilled to Produce Bis' Most Ambitious Project to Date.
    Return to Central
    Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    • Perfect band for covering Joy Division classic.,
    		 Return to Central
    Bis
    Manufacturer: Avex Trax Japan
    ProductGroup: Music
    Binding: Audio CD

    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    Alternative DanceAlternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Rock | Styles | Music
    Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
    GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
    Alternative RockAlternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
    RockRock | Imports | Stores | Music
    ASIN: B00005R6B1
    Release Date: 2001-12-05

    Tracks:

    1. What You're Afraid Of
    2. Silver Spoon
    3. Black Pepper
    4. The End Starts Today
    5. Protection
    6. Two Million
    7. Chicago
    8. Metal Box
    9. We're Complicated
    10. Robotic
    11. Portrait From Space
    12. Protection
    13. European
    14. Love Will Tear Us Apart

    Album Description

    Japanese edition of 2001 album includes three exclusive bonus tracks that don't parallel the Aussie edition, 'Protection' (HR 16 Version), 'The European' (12 Inch Version) & 'Love Will Tear Us Apart'.

    Album Details

    Japanese Version featuring Three Bonus Tracks: 'protection (Hr 16 Version)', 'the European (12inch Version)', and a Cover Version of Joy Division's 'love Will Tear Us Apart'

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars Perfect band for covering Joy Division classic.,.......2002-06-08

    Pop-punk Bis tackle the classic 'Love Will Tear Us Apart' by the forerunners of pop-punk, Joy Division, and it sounds GREAT. Ian Curtis' mournful, dry-ice voice is replaced by a computer reciting the lyrics. Don't hang up - it's beautiful, honestly. The original is one of the most truthful pop songs ever recorded about a relationship in decline. Bis does an excellent job of capuring the right amount of detachment and pathos in Curtis' voice which (this really shouldn't surprise anybody) makes a great transition to a more electronic pop. The synth-techno-80s-pop is perfect, and a great homage to Joy Division, the forerunners of New Order who obviously influenced Bis to a great extent.
    'Love Will Tear Us Apart' is one of my all-time favorite songs and I'm very pleased that Bis does not disappoint here.
    Return to Central
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      		Return to Central
      Bis
      Manufacturer: Universal/Fullfill
      ProductGroup: Music
      Binding: Audio CD

      GeneralGeneral | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
      Indie RockIndie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
      GeneralGeneral | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
      Alternative DanceAlternative Dance | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
      Pop RockPop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
      ASIN: B00005RGCS
      Release Date: 2006-01-16

      Tracks:

      1. What You're Afraid Of
      2. Silver Spoon
      3. Black Pepper
      4. The End Starts Today
      5. Protection
      6. Two Million
      7. Chicago
      8. Metal Box
      9. We're Complicated
      10. Robotic
      11. A Portrait From Space
      12. Don't Let The Rain Come Down
      13. Make It Through
      14. Untitled

      Album Description

      Glasgow's Bis tweak their indie pop quirkiness on their fourth album, Return to Central, and it's a desirable and funkadelic feel-good mix of Bis' signature disco hooks and thick pop beats. Surely their most ambitious release, Bis shrug off their post-pubescent punk-pop snarlings and kiddie chants found on The New Transistor Heroes and Intendo and make Return to Central a vibrant twist in their Teen-C Revolution. Manda Rin tames her little girl rants for something sassy, tossing all criticism aside to transcend into electronic bliss. She and Bis cohorts John Disco and Sci-Fi Steve frolic with new wave synth breaks, and let their fondness for Talk Talk, New Order, and Can be known. Bis isn't consumed with angst for the music follower, for they'd rather spiral into club land in their own musical mystery. Return to Central allows Bis to relish in their fun and self-indulgence without them being regarded as snotty indie punks. A sophistication is cast, spawning Bis' bold move from "Kandy Pop."

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