Classical Graffiti

Amazon.com
The title of the Planets' debut album, Classical Graffiti, aptly encapsulates the latest project by Mike Batt, whose career has long steered a path between camp and classical, from serious orchestral concerts to pop hits, from film scores to masterminding the Wombles. Recently Batt gave the world Bond, and the Planets are even more of the same--four classically trained young women, this time partnered by four classically trained young men. The result is 16 Batt-arranged and produced tracks, both originals and covers of famous classical melodies, some acoustic, most given a polished MOR rock-dance twist. The Planets made their public debut supporting Deep Purple's 2002 UK tour and there's more than a hint of 1970s prog-rock, which, combined with an energetic feel, should go down a storm with an enthusiastic audience. Opening with an up-tempo, beat-laden "Adagio" from Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez, the set includes "Contradanza", a Vivaldi-influenced Batt dance originally penned for Vanessa Mae, and a beautiful, slightly adapted version of the traditional "She Moved Through the Fair." --Gary S Dalkin

Classical Graffiti,The Planets,EMI Classics

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Classical Graffiti

Average customer rating: Nice Cross Over Mike Batt FAILS Great talent ruined by terrible songs A Light Hearted Delight Has potential, but lacks direction

Classical Graffiti The Planets Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: Beyond Imagination Classified The Opera Band Explosive: The Best of Bond Born ASIN: B00005YUGV Release Date: 2003-03-11

Tracks:

1. Rodrigo
2. Carmen Caprice
3. Grassland Theme
4. Classical Graffiti
5. Love In Slow Motion
6. Brandenburg Variation
7. The Journey Of A Fool
8. Clair De Lune
9. He Moved Through The Fair
10. Contradanza
11. A Letter From New England
12. Bolero Fantasy
13. A One Minute Silence (Classical Version)
14. Carmen Caprice (Acoustic Version)
15. Brandenburg Variation (Acoustic Version)
16. Bolero Fantasy (Acoustic Version)
17. Christmas Thingy

Amazon.com

The title of the Planets' debut album, Classical Graffiti, aptly encapsulates the latest project by Mike Batt, whose career has long steered a path between camp and classical, from serious orchestral concerts to pop hits, from film scores to masterminding the Wombles. Recently Batt gave the world Bond, and the Planets are even more of the same--four classically trained young women, this time partnered by four classically trained young men. The result is 16 Batt-arranged and produced tracks, both originals and covers of famous classical melodies, some acoustic, most given a polished MOR rock-dance twist. The Planets made their public debut supporting Deep Purple's 2002 UK tour and there's more than a hint of 1970s prog-rock, which, combined with an energetic feel, should go down a storm with an enthusiastic audience. Opening with an up-tempo, beat-laden "Adagio" from Rodrigo's Concerto de Aranjuez, the set includes "Contradanza", a Vivaldi-influenced Batt dance originally penned for Vanessa Mae, and a beautiful, slightly adapted version of the traditional "She Moved Through the Fair." --Gary S Dalkin

Customer Reviews:

Nice Cross Over .......2004-12-30

One can hear and appreciate the classical training of these fine musicians, and this attempt to cross over into more hip crowd. I appreciate that their attempts to do this with classical pieces did not venture too far out, e.g. Rodrigo is my least favorite piece. I do enjoy the Carmen Caprice pieces and the Brandenburg Varaitions are well done.

The pieces unfamiliar to me are quite good: The Journey of A Fool, He Moved Through the Fair, A Letter from New England.

The Christmas Trilogy is nice ending, with its swirling, winding version of What Child Is This, Holly & Ivy and In Dulce Jubilo.

Mike Batt FAILS.......2004-09-20

I guess Mike Batt can't get it right each time. Vanessa-Mae... fantastic. BOND.. Absolutely GREAT

The Planets?

....CRAP

This is just sad. If you want to hear crossover done right, get Vanessa Mae's best of and bond's born, shine, or classified.

Great talent ruined by terrible songs.......2004-08-27

It is obvious that they have a lot of talent. The first song has a lot of energy and is quite good. But after that, the tempo of all the songs is moderato at the fastest. Most of the songs that were chosen were just to slow of songs. It does not match up to the caliber of Bond, where I thought it would have.

A Light Hearted Delight.......2004-03-25

As a music teacher I found this album delightful. They seem to blend pop and classical in an interesting way. My general music students, many modern pop or rap fans really enjoyed the selections. It is generally very difficult to sneak in good quality music and have it appreciated. High school students do not listen to very much that is musical these days. After only a few tracks they kept asking to hear more. This is quite an accomplishment. I thoroughly enjoyed their reactions. I hope The Planets will record again.

Has potential, but lacks direction.......2003-07-16

The CD opens with a fantastic adaption of Rodrigo but goes downhill from there. Too many of the tracks have a generic, slow, elevator music sound to them, something I would not have expected from a CD produced and arranged by Mike Batt. Other tracks lack direction and come off as poor imitations of Vanessa-Mae. The Planets' rendition of Contradanza, a piece composed by Mike Batt originally for Vanessa-Mae, makes my ears bleed.

If you're a fan of classical crossover (as I am), this CD is still worthwhile to own. "Rodrigo" and "Classical Graffiti" show the potential of this group if they can develop more of a style and tackle some tougher material. Buy it with the caveat that you're not going to find the same creativity or dynamism as with the early albums from Vanessa-Mae or Bond.

If you're looking for more of an introduction to good classical crossover music, pick up Vanessa-Mae's "The Violin Player" and Bond's "Born" instead.

Average customer rating:

Recorder Graffiti / Dan Laurin (Solo Recorder) Manufacturer: Intim Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000DGP3 Release Date: 2006-10-24

Average customer rating:

Whelden: Like a Passing River, music to and text from Rudy Rucker Carl Friedrich Abel , Roy Whelden , and American Baroque Ensemble Manufacturer: New Albion Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000000R3W Release Date: 1995-03-21

Tracks:

1. Like A Passing River: I Was Sixteen
2. Like A Passing River: Fugue-state #1
3. Like A Passing River: I Was At The New Year's Eve Dance
4. Like A Passing River
5. Like A Passing River: The Graffiti On The Subway Cars
6. Like A Passing River: Sinfonia
7. Like A Passing River: Right On 42nd Street
8. Like A Passing River: A Sudden Pang Seizes My Heart
9. Like A Passing River: On The Street It's Still Light
10. Like A Passing River: We're Out In The Boat
11. Like A Passing River: Fugue-state #2
12. Like A Passing River: Don Juan, Carlos Castaneda's Man
13. Like A Passing River: Rucker Songs
14. Like A Passing River: So What's The Point?
15. Knape 209: Adagio
16. Like A Passing River: What's The Point?
17. Like A Passing River: Into The Light

Average customer rating:

Classical Graffiti Planets Manufacturer: EMI ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00006J9O7 Release Date: 2002-08-19

Tracks:

1. Rodrigo
2. Carmen Caprice
3. Grassland Theme
4. Classical Graffiti
5. Love In Slow Motion
6. Brandenburg Variation
7. The Journey Of A Fool
8. Clair De Lune
9. He Moved Through The Fair
10. Contradanza
11. A Letter From New England
12. Bolero Fantasy
13. A One Minute Silence
14. Carmen Caprice (Bonus Track)
15. Brandenburg Variation (Bonus Track)
16. Bolero Fantasy (Bonus Track)
17. Christmas Thingy (Bonus Track)
18. Data Format (Not Playable) (Bonus AVCD)
19. EPK (Bonus AVCD)
20. Rodrigo (Music Video) (Bonus AVCD)
21. Rodrigo (Audio WIP Extended Version) (Bonus AVCD)
22. Contradanza (Audio Almighty Radio Edit Mix) (Bonus AVCD)

Album Description

The title of the Planets' debut album, Classical Graffiti, aptly encapsulates the latest project by Mike Batt, whose career has long steered a path between camp & classical, from serious orchestral concerts to pop hits, from film scores to masterminding the Wombles. Recently Batt gave the world Bond, & the Planets are even more of the same--four classically trained young women, this time partnered by four classically trained young men. The result is 16 Batt-arranged & produced tracks, both originals & covers of famous classical melodies, some acoustic, most given a polished MOR rock-dance twist. The Planets made their public debut supporting Deep Purple's 2002 UK tour & there's more than a hint of 1970s prog-rock, which, combined with an energetic feel, should go down a storm with an enthusiastic audience. This special Asian pressing includes a bonus Audio/Video CD which features an Electronic Press Kit (Video viewable on most DVD players), 'Rodrigo (Music Video viewable on most DVD players) & two non-LP audio tracks, 'Rodrigo' (WIP Extended Version) & 'Contradanza (Almighty Radio Edit Mix)'. 21 tracks in all. Standard & single jewel cases in a slipcase. 2002.

Album Details

Asian Version featuring a Bonus CD Enhanced Mutilmedia, Two Bonus Video Tracks (Videos for "EPK", and "Rodrigo"), and Two Bonus Audio Tracks ("Rodrigo - Wip Extended Version", and "Contradanza - Almighty Radio Edit Mix").

Average customer rating:

Recorder Graffiti Dan Laurin Manufacturer: Intim Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000003YJ7 Release Date: 1995-09-19

Average customer rating: Brilliant! Brilliant! Fabulous new young British group

Classical Graffiti Planets Manufacturer: Emi ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005QVXX Release Date: 2001-10-29

Tracks:

1. Rodrigo
2. Carmen Caprice
3. Grassland Theme
4. Classical Graffiti
5. Love In Slow Motion
6. I Feel Free
7. The Journey Of A Fool
8. Ghost Riders In The Sky
9. Romance In G
10. He Moved Through The Fair
11. Contradanza
12. Bolero

Album Details

All Members Classically Trained Freshly Plucked from School and all Oozing with Sex Appeal, this Bandlooks to Blaze New Trails in Marketing. None Are Over the Age of
25. Their Ranges from Bizet and Rodrigo to Pop Band Cream...jack Bruce Evenlends his Vocals to 'i Feel Free'. Produced by Mike Batt, Half the Material He Composedspecifically for this Project.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant!.......2002-09-27

This is a great example of "modernised" classical music.
Many great tracks, but the one that is closest to my heart has to be "A One Minute Silence". An absolutely breathtaking and thought provoking conceptual piece, which sometimes I listen to on repeat over and over. It is a far superior piece to John Cage's 4:33, which pales in comparison

Brilliant!.......2002-09-27

This is a great example of "modernised" classical music.
Many great tracks, but the one that is closest to my heart has to be "A One Minute Silence". An absolutely breathtaking and thought-provoking conceptual piece, which sometimes I listen to on repeat over and over. It is a far superior piece to John Cage's 4:33, which pales in comparison.

-Klep

Fabulous new young British group.......2002-06-04

This promising young group of 8, four men and four women ages 22-28 have produced a popular easy listening CD, following highly successful debut in London last fall. EMI is so impressed that there is more to come, following a £3 million contract. Some easy listening classical, Spanish, etc. We love it!

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