Out of Season [Enhanced]

Amazon.com
As collaborations go, the partnership of Portishead's ghostly singer Beth Gibbons and Paul "Rustin Man" Webb (former bassist of '80s pop band Talk Talk) seems an extremely unlikely one. However, as Out of Season shows, the pair have a surprising amount in common, including a love of supremely melancholic melodies and eerily atmospheric backdrops. Ambling quietly from the mournful folk of "Mysteries" through the twilight piano lament of "Show" and the uneasy cinematic sway of "Spyder," Out of Season creates a dreamily sinister otherworld that's both vintage and timeless. Yet, despite relying solely on beautiful bittersweet melodies and acoustic instrumentation to conjure its twisted romance--instead of the usual murky trip-hop beats and studio manipulation associated with Gibbons's dysfunctional songs--the fundamental chill of Portishead is ever present. And that's because, for all the wonderful, sleepy lullabies, it's the haunting isolation she conveys with every note that captivates. Even on the gorgeously hazy lounge tunes "Romance" and "Sand River"--both brimming with Burt Bacharach-style optimism--she manages to sound like Dusty Springfield with a dark and tragic secret. She has an amazingly affecting voice, which makes Out of Season a truly magical album. --Dan Gennoe

Out of Season,Beth Gibbons,Sanctuary Records,Adult Alternative Pop/Rock,Alternative Folk,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop,Singer/Songwriter

Out of Season [Enhanced]

Average customer rating:

Not like Portis much,but its difference isn't a bad thing at all
Beth Gibbons must be very lonely at times
You cannot resist suffering like this.....
Un paso adelante de Portishead
excellent departure part II

Out of Season

Manufacturer: Sanctuary Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Glory Times
Portishead
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Live: Roseland NYC
Portishead - Roseland New York

ASIN: B0000CDL7B
Release Date: 2003-10-07

Tracks:

MYSTERIES
TOM THE MODEL
SHOW
ROMANCE
SAND RIVER
SPIDER MONKEY
RESOLVE
DRAKE
FUNNY TIME OF YEAR
RUSTIN MAN
CANDY SAYS

Amazon.com

As collaborations go, the partnership of Portishead's ghostly singer Beth Gibbons and Paul "Rustin Man" Webb (former bassist of '80s pop band Talk Talk) seems an extremely unlikely one. However, as Out of Season shows, the pair have a surprising amount in common, including a love of supremely melancholic melodies and eerily atmospheric backdrops. Ambling quietly from the mournful folk of "Mysteries" through the twilight piano lament of "Show" and the uneasy cinematic sway of "Spyder," Out of Season creates a dreamily sinister otherworld that's both vintage and timeless. Yet, despite relying solely on beautiful bittersweet melodies and acoustic instrumentation to conjure its twisted romance--instead of the usual murky trip-hop beats and studio manipulation associated with Gibbons's dysfunctional songs--the fundamental chill of Portishead is ever present. And that's because, for all the wonderful, sleepy lullabies, it's the haunting isolation she conveys with every note that captivates. Even on the gorgeously hazy lounge tunes "Romance" and "Sand River"--both brimming with Burt Bacharach-style optimism--she manages to sound like Dusty Springfield with a dark and tragic secret. She has an amazingly affecting voice, which makes Out of Season a truly magical album. --Dan Gennoe

Customer Reviews:

Not like Portis much,but its difference isn't a bad thing at all.......2006-11-10

Ms. Gibbons was great in Portishead as anyone reading this probably knows very well,but with this solo album she takes advantage of the freedoms being a single artist gives.She changes her vocals in a few tunes,goes for a folk feel on some tracks,and has some pleasent lyrics along with a few dark themes;all these elements sound great;she must've spend some time on this one since it doesn't sound rushed.I reccomend this to any Portis fan,or anyone who enjoys chilled-out music in the folk/art-rock/ambient rock vein.Perfect for almost any weather or mood,a feat not many albums can boast of!

Beth Gibbons must be very lonely at times.......2006-05-05

Listening to the haunting "Show", the third song on "Out of seasons" I'm reminded in more than one way of the Australian singer Nick Cave. Beth Gibbons has the same chain-smoked voice, an unsatisfying eager for dark, sometimes even depressing moods and there is indeed something filmish, something cinematic about her lyrics.

When I hear her sing this song, or for instance "Tom the model", I vision myself sitting in some dark, damp nightclub, watching an untouchable, badly dressed singer, like in the old film noir movies.
There is indeed something routine-like in her entire presence on this disc. It's more intimate than the Portishead-thing Beth has done, but also a bit more worn-down.

Beth is indeed a nightclub singer who sings her songs for the zillionth time, meanwhile dreaming of getting out, getting anywhere but in the place and present she's in now.
All this has some sort of awkward romantic overtone, so things aren't that sorrowful. It's indeed a nice atmospherical album, with notes that fall like drizzeling raindrops and lines like autumn leaves being blown away by a chilly wind.

"It's a funny time of year" Beth sings in the most stand-out song. "I can see / there'll be no blossoms on the trees." With a `voice of love' that's definitely so out of season...

You cannot resist suffering like this............2005-12-11

With it's subtle nature sound effects, creepy little choral samples and achingly beautful melodies, "Out of Season" casts its shadow over your unsuspecting heart. These tender poems are saturated with bleakness by Gibbons' voice and the ghostly sparseness of the acoustic instruments.

The pain begins with "Mysteries" with the line "Nobody made this war of mine." "Romance" claims, "It's plain to see all the things we suffer/ at the hands of humanity."

When she sings "Summer skies are leaving me behind/like a circle, life is ever moving by" it's less an autumnal afterthought than a realisation of soul damned in "Resolve." The lyric is full of pathos; it's almost a suicide note set to the most romantic tune imaginable.

"Spyder" continues this treatise on suffering as Gibbons whispers, "Time is but a memory/a bitter note unsung/running, trying to find salvation/from the sorrow that is done."

And so it goes until it spends itself in tears and silence. By then, however, you have been transported to the island of the dispossessed.

Easily one of the 3 best CDs to come out in the last 5 years, along with fellow Bristolites Kosheen with their haunting "Resist" and Norway's Slowpho, whose debut "Hotel Sleep" prickles with icy woe.

Un paso adelante de Portishead.......2005-09-10

Este es el primer CD que compro de manera on-line, en amazon, o en cualquier otro medio. Y no es arbitrario que asi sea. Beth, tiene el poder de seducir mis actos hasta este punto.
La primer que esuche 'Out of season', definitivamente lo alejé de mi lado y lo saque de mis manifestaciones musicales por un tiempo, tuvo que pasar otro encuentro con el CD, para darle el atributo y la posición que se merecia, una segunda mirada me revelo un sonido mucho mas humilde, despojado de toda la parafernalia electronica (muy atractiva, por cierto) que hacian de estos sonidos una mezcla interesante entre la calma antes de cualquier situación.
Con una voz bastante histrionica y dramatica, la gibbons, nos trasnporta hacia los estados en los cuales ella quiere que caigamos, el musico co-participe de este disco, Rustin Man, se merece toda mi admiración y respeto, por lograr conjugar ese sonido glam electronico (al que nos tenia acostumbrado Beth junto a Portishead) con baladas simples minimas y bellas, una musica del preambulo y la calma de la ausencia y la presencia de situaciones vocales y ritmicas bastante atrayentes y atractivas.

Nada mas que decir, uno de los mejores albumes de mi discoteca, ojla esta unión de más frutos, y ojala que Portishead tambien los de alguna vez.

PD: Adrian Utley el bajista de portishead, tambien participo en este proyecto... asi que no lo vean tan NO PORTISHEAD, pues en escencia vendria siendo como lo mismo, pero renovado.

excellent departure part II.......2005-08-01

Unfortunately for Gibbons, some of her fans refuse her the ability to expand and for this reason a lot of listeners were dissappointed by "Out of Season". Gibbons was of course aware this would be the case, and nonetheless embarked on a musical project that was more than the present day obsession with the hip and edgy sound...for this reason she knew her project would be out of season with the trends.

Recognizing the double-edge sword of trying too hard to be "so fresh and so clean", Gibbons decided to pursue timelessness. Not in a long time has such a pursuit been as successful in quality as "Out of Season". Every song is perfectly at home in the thirties, sixties, or in the new millenium. Few contemporary artists could boast such a claim. Fewer still have as much possibility of being listened to half a century from now either. "Out of Season" however, with its non-chalant lack of interest in trendy sounds is likely to be the testament 50 years from now of Gibbons' natural talent...raw and forward, undecorated with flashy breakbeats or dark strings...just beautiful in itself.

Average customer rating:

Trite Not Treat
"Before the sh*t, there was a mighty fine meal" - W.A. Mozart
Cage for people who don't like modern music
In A Landscape = unmatched beauty
Great for old and new listeners

John Cage: In a Landscape

Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B000003EL7
Release Date: 1995-01-10

Tracks:

In A Landscape
Music For Marcel Duchamp
Souvenir
A Valentine Out Of Season
Suite For Toy Piano
Bacchanale
Prelude For Meditation
Dream

Customer Reviews:

Trite Not Treat.......2006-02-23

There is a common assumption, particularly among the musical literati, that if a piece is novel, obscure, extremely simple, unchromatic or simply weird, it must, by definition, be quality material. Sheer novelty trumps quality. I am reminded of having to hunker down at the Symphony as the conductor launches into an extended "explanation" on why this next piece may not have a melody, discernable beat, nor employ "ordinary" instruments, yet is still a fine piece of art. (Chances are the majority of comments will be along the lines of, "What in the world was that thing with bongo drums & basketballs?"

I am the first to admit the artistry, perhaps musicality of Cage even when he takes himself AND his music too seriously. At least we did not have to "listen" to 4'33". One reviewer was correct - this is perhaps the most accessible offering of the entire ouevre. It is...interesting in a childish sort of way, sort of like someone who learns that hitting notes on a keyboard results in sounds or better, is playing just to hear the sounds that can be produced. DREAM perfectly expresses the mood of this CD (which is wonderful as party backgroup music) with its enigmatic, almost shy explorations. The tracks are united by an almost wordless fear of being closely examined. A few contain a nice rhythmic drive, others remind one of that godawful New Age stuff heard on public radio occasionally. The CD is compelling only if one takes their music with a huge dollop of tenuousness.

"Before the sh*t, there was a mighty fine meal" - W.A. Mozart.......2006-02-01

The bigger sin would be to have been born before Bach and bitch about the dearth of music celebrating things other than mankind's moribundity. We listeners - and listeners of greater rotundity, too - must wade backward through some rather insensible attempts to make music of the kind that might be called classical. Very generally our near contemporaries have either soaked us all heavy with a riptide of sentimentality or made of mockery of sound so effectively that we have all soaked them with our unceasing flows of laughter.

Before Picasso was making a bloody mess of things he was making something approximating art; and in between those conical eyes and angular breasts I can nearly find the remnants of that once sane man. John Cage had me in stitches for a time when I had the patience and credulity to stop long enough to listen. He reminded me that the piano was a percussive instrument - one to be hardly banged upon in the chorus of creation and muse.

Between then and the very moment I received `In a Landscape' John Cage was merely a mark of reference denoting that point at which I stopped taking his work and my life too seriously. But `In a Landscape' - or as I spooneristically name it, "In a Cage" - is something unlike the curious Cage and something more than the mere "bleats beyond the reckoning table."

Though I have no faith in my own estimation of what is good or deserving of praise, I do know what I hate; AND THIS I DO NOT HATE. `Landscape' is - I think - a collection of sparse and haunting melodies that seems to fit well with me when reading Joseph Campbell's "Hero" or Richard Feynman's "6 Easy Pieces." `In a Landscape' is to my ear almost great. I think this is so because I tend to lean in when I listen, and this "leaning in" is a gesture I've never offered John Cage or his music when stuck between him and his variations.

Cage for people who don't like modern music.......2004-01-25

Stephen Drury has been a great servant of John Cage's music for many years, mostly recording for small labels such as Mode (who honoured him by putting him, along with Irvine Arditti, on their 100th release). In this, one of Drury's few recordings for a major label, he concentrates on Cage's more accessible music, for piano, prepared piano (a piano with objects placed on the strings to turn it into something between a piano and a percussion instrument), organ and even a toy piano.

In A Landscape is a 1948 work in which simple Satiesque melodies are played on a piano with the sustaining pedal held down, creating a soft haze of harmonies. This could easily be simple kitsch, but Cage's careful musical judgement allows the music to be sonically beautiful without degenerating into New Age mush. Music for Marcel Duchamp, a 1947 film soundtrack for prepared piano, takes a single melodic line and spins it out intriguingly, insistent rhythms mollified by soft modal harmonies and long silences. Souvenir, a 1983 organ composition, continues the Satiesque aesthetic with its gentle progress, repetitions and modal harmonies. It is certainly sonically beautiful, though I find it goes on a little too long for my taste.

A Valentine Out Of Season is a set of three brief pieces for prepared piano, written in 1944 (the title refers to the break-up of Cage's marriage). The first piece is slow and chromatic, the second a vigorously rhythmic dance and the last combines the characteristics of the two preceding pieces. Rather slighter is the 1948 Suite for Toy Piano, which makes about as much music as can be made from an instrument with only nine notes. A major contrast to this is the 1940 Bacchanale, Cage's first work for prepared piano, a vigorous, repetitive dance that keeps suddenly losing its rhythmic vigour, then recovering it.

The disc ends with two slow pieces. The brief, white-note Prelude for Meditation was written for prepared piano in 1944 and is Satiesque in its rhythmic and harmonic restraint. Dream, a 1948 piano piece, returns to the atmosphere of In A Landscape, though I don't think it's quite as striking as that piece.

With the exception of In A Landscape, I would regard the works on this disc as minor rather than major Cage. Nonetheless, Drury's sympathetic performance approach brings out the best in these attractive pieces, and this disc would make a very good first taste of Cage for listeners of a more conservative bent.

In A Landscape = unmatched beauty.......2003-05-29

In my opinion, John Cage's In A Landscape is THE most beautiful peice for piano of absolute all time. Never has there been a classical peice for this instrument that truely got to me personally than this. And never will there ever be. In A Landscape goes beyond 'music' and is an entity in itself that speaks on many levels. It's so simple and yet is so powerful. This is a must for any music lover or/and a person who would like to get to know the many works of John Cage.

Great for old and new listeners.......2002-08-04

...For a new listener this album is perfect. It's beautiful, and accessible and just all around pleasing to listen to. The piece "In A Landscape" is the first piece I play for anyone who says they don't like John Cage. They're usually sold within the first 30 seconds of the piece. The ambience and simplicity of this piece is so striking, but Cage's take on harmony (which is especially challenging in a piece that's so focused on melody) keeps the piece from sounding new age.
Anyone just starting out with John Cage, start here. If this strikes you well, check out "Music For Changes" and then the Sonatas and Interludes for prepared piano. Beyond that I highly encourage anyone to do some research, read some of Cage's writings, especially a collection of essays and lectures titled "Silence." As his life progresses, his music becomes more minimal and disjointed, and his words really strike down exactly what it is he's trying to accomplish with his music, and that really helps the listener.
For listeners that are already very familiar with Cage's work, this still isn't a waste. These recordings are a great collection of some nice Cage pieces that don't get as much attention, and is still a really pleasing album to listen to.

Average customer rating:

Bee Season is wonderful...

Bee Season
Peter Nashel
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000BH4Y3G
Release Date: 2005-10-25

Tracks:

I'll Be Near You (Performed by Ivy)
Prologue/Main Titles
Spelling Suite
Confidence
Fresno Hotel
What's A Mystic
I Start Out Hearing It In My Head
Washington
Abulafia's Path
Partita II In D Minor, BWV. 1004 Chaccone (Excerpt)
You're Not Coming With Me?
Vessel Of Light
Orange Sheet
Origami
Shefa
The Nationals
Light

Customer Reviews:

Bee Season is wonderful..........2006-06-03

Bee Season is a score that is remarkably relaxing. It's one of those scores that you just listen to on your portable CD player in your car, as your taking a long drive. It's so peaceful. The score is filled with fast paced strings that give it a fair beat. Piano mixes in with the strings to give it a pretty good sound. Ivy's "I'll be near you" is a wonderful slow song, that has beautiful lyrics and suddenly relaxes you. The music fits perfectly with the scene in the movie that its in. Don't miss out on this one folks.

1. I'll Be Near You Performed by: Ivy 5/5
2. Prologue/Main Titles 5/5
3. Spelling Suite 4/5
4. Confidence 3/5
5. Fresno Hotel 4/5
6. What's A Mystic 3/5
7. I Start Out Hearing It In My Head 4/5
8. Washington 5/5
9. Abulafia's Path 3/5
10. Partita II In D Minor, BWV. 1004 Chaccone (Excerpt) 5/5
11. You're Not Coming With Me? 4/5
12. Vessel Of Light 5/5
13. Orange Sheet 3/5
14. Origami 4/5
15. Shefa 5/5
16. The Nationals 5/5
17. Light 5/5

I highly recommend the movie along with this. I hope you enjoy!

Jordan
Overall grade* B+

Average customer rating:

High, High Art
thank you miss gibbons!!!
Beautiful "Season"
GREAT MOOD & RANGE, BUT OVERALL NOT A STAGGERING ALBUM
I took a chance and lucked out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Out of Season
Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Portishead

ASIN: B00006ZSAD
Release Date: 2002-11-12

Tracks:

Mysteries
Tom the Model
Show
Romance
Sand River
Spider Monkey
Resolve
Drake
Funny Time of Year
Rustin Man

Album Description

Debut solo album from Portishead vocalist, in collaboration with Talk Talk man Paul Webb (alias Rustin Man). Eschewing Portishead's lush orchestrations for a sparse, bare production, this is a collection of quiet, acoustic folk and jazz balladry which showcases Gibbons's versatile voice. Features additional production and guitar work by her Portishead colleague Adrian Utley. Lee Harris & Simon Edwards of Talk Talk also contributed to the record. The album was mixed by Phill Brown who worked on Talk Talk's 'Spirit Of Eden'. Go Beat.

Album Details

You'll Know Beth from Portishead and Paul from Talk Talk (Aka Rustin Man). An Exquisitely Melodic, Haunting Album, Yet at the Same Time is Has a Spiritual Depth, and Palpable Human Emotion. Those who Love Nick Drake Or Nina Simone, Or Even Some Styles of Radiohead Would Do Well to Pick this Up.

Customer Reviews:

High, High Art.......2005-10-04

In my humble opinion, most of the reviewers below, by focussing on the stylistic aspects of Beth Gibbons' new album, have completely missed the point. Let me add also that I'm one of Portishead's most rabid fans, and that I consider their almost impossible to find "Trip Hop Reconstruction" (differently titled depending on the country of origin--mine's Australian) to be one of the greatest albums ever--along with Dummy, Portishead and Roseland of course. But maybe albums like "Out of Season" should be reviewed both by normal people who can critique them effectively on their purely stylistic attributes, and those who are "damaged" in some way, and who can therefore critique something like this on a more general aesthetic level. Because this album bears comparison with the greatest musical art in western civilization that seeks to encompass the emotions of loneliness, alienation desolation and despair. I'm serious. I recently compared it to Brigit Fassbaender's Schubert "Winterreise," Shostakovich's 14th Symphony, the "Abscheid" from Mahler's "Das Lied von der Erde" and Moussorgsky's great "Sunless" and "Songs and Dances of Death" cycles. That's about as good as it gets, and this magnificent album easily belongs in that "elite" company. The songs range from excellent to unbelievable as do Paul Webb's haunting arrangements and accompaniments. But it's Gibbons vocal performance that elevates this into the realm of high, serious art. I've never heard a singer (I'm speaking here solely about the perforance rather than the material) who is able to convey the meaning and essence of what if feels like to be completely, hopelessly isolated from the world. This isn't solitude, it's bleak, stark loneliness.

Lucky for them, most people don't get it. For example, one of the reviewers below describes the dreamy atmosphere of "Sand River" and quotes the lines "Beauty has a hold on me; Autumn leaves, pretty as can be." But the emotional center of the song is in the next two lines, when Gibbons virtually sobs out "Everyone can see, everyone except me." Try to imagine what it feels like when even beauty leaves you behind. Listening to Beth Gibbons will help, if you want to give it a try. I've never heard a vocal performance like this. Gibbon's can float a beautiful note better than just about anyone when she wants to, and when she does so on this album--taken in context--it will tear your heart out. When beauty takes a back seat to truth, as it often must on a work like this, I find myself wondering how someone can get so close to the edge without losing it and falling off. Subtle changes in inflexion, the emphasis she places on certain words, the way she adopts a slightly different tone to suit the mood of each song remind me of what separates something like Maxim Vengerov's shattering performance of Shostakovich's 1st Violin concerto, which literally makes all prior and subsequent recordings of the work superfluous, from other, merely competent performances. You can't describe it without doing it a disservice; this is the truly the kind of music-making that begins where mere words lose their ability to adequately convey the intent of the communicator.

So this album is for everyone who's ever stuck a needle in their arm on a slate gray Sunday afternoon in a filthy flat in some rotten city, who's ever made a serious attempt at drinking themselves to death, who's ever known that "died of a broken heart" can be more than just a metaphor, who has gone a month without even a call from a telephone solicitor, who has ever forgotten how to talk because they've gone so long without speaking to another person, who has loved so hard what they can never love again that they wished they had never loved at all. Each song, in its own way, is like a suicide note from the edge of the abyss, except perhaps for "Rustin Man" which sounds as much like a love song from beyond the grave as you're ever likely to hear. This is not music to make your martini slide down easier, or to use as a soundtrack to your next sexual conquest. It's not easy to listen to, and it might just ruin your day. But make no mistake about it, this is one of the greatest vocal recordings ever made.

thank you miss gibbons!!!.......2005-05-17

her music career had began with portishead.i have all of portishead albums,but this album is beth gibbons' best.this is her first solo album with rustin man and most successful album i have ever heard from her.this album is even greater than any portishead album.

Beautiful "Season".......2004-09-14

You know her best as the ethereal voice of Portishead, but in "Out of Season" Beth Gibbons strays away from indie trip-hop into melancholy acoustic pop, jazz and folk, collaborated with Paul "Rustin Man" Webb of Talk Talk. This autumn-toned collection is melancholy and pensive, a bittersweet little gem.

"Out of Season" starts off strong with the gentle, plaintive "Mysteries," followed by the shimmery "Tom the Model," the piano ballads "Show" and "Resolve," jazzy "Sand River," and the brilliantly murky "Spider Monkey." It finally wraps up with the bizarrely enticing "Rustin Man," a wavering outflow of shimmery sonic currents and Gibbons' submerged vocals.

The opening lines of "Sand River" ("Autumn leaves/Beauty's got a hold on me/Autumn leaves/Pretty as can be") pretty much describe "Out of Season." The cool prettiness of Portishead carries over to the folkier, simpler tunes.

Beth Gibbons' vocals are outstanding, clear and sensual in just about every song. "Rustin Man" and "Romance" are the exceptions. In the former, her voice sounds seductively mechanical; in the latter, she almost sounds like she's parodying a torch singer sometimes. It's a little disconcerting, but her voice is almost uniformly beautiful.

The instrumentation is stripped-down to bare bones: piano and acoustic guitar, most of the time. Adding a bit of extra flavor are gentle string accompaniments, and a bit of subtle organ work. And the songwriting goes more towards being moodily evocative, with quiet lines like "And those water-coloured memories/Soft as a summer's breeze/You're as pretty as can be."

Though a little uneven at times, "Out of Season" is like a fall morning -- cool, pretty and faded. Beth Gibbons' foray into non-Portishead turf is a solid one, and this collection of autumnal ballads is definitely a keeper.

GREAT MOOD & RANGE, BUT OVERALL NOT A STAGGERING ALBUM.......2003-11-07

As a part of Portishead, Beth Gibbons churned out smoky cabaret blues which made for invigorating showpieces of her incredible smokey voice. But this somewhat self-indulgent solo debut collaboration with Rustin Man (what's with that name?) is ultimately a little less than what I expected.

Gibbons cannot be doubted for having taken some clever risks -- this album makes a cross into jazz, soul, autumnal and even folk arpeggios. But Portishead had oodles of subwoofer-bass and spunky, modern sounds. "Out of Season" on the other hand is a bit too ballady. The somber piano and mournful cello do NOT in my book live up to what I had expected from Gibbons.

We're plunged into this moodiness from song 1. "Mysteries" opens the album crisply, folkish arpeggios plucking their way around Beth's gasps, while a cadre of gospel singers in the background oooooh the record into being. "Tom the Model" carries on that flavour, answering delicate folk verses with a nicely retro big-band soul chorus. "Show", for all its miserable pleading, is as forgettable a song as Gibbons has ever crooned. "Romance" is another slowish ballad, with french horns thrown in for good measure.

"Sand River" brings on Gibbons' sexy voice into full swing, this is the most Portishead-esque number on the album! This, for me, is where the album really begins. "Resolve" and "Drake" lend the album its Billy-Holiday-in-Karaoke jazz flavour.

Overall, if it weren't for the amazing vocal talent of Gibbons and the splendid arrangements I'd probably have suggested you to skip this one. But her voice is what carries the album and keeps me from resenting this purchase.

4/5 material.

I took a chance and lucked out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.......2003-10-25

I was on Sunset Blvd in LA at Tower Records when I heard this album being played in the store. I didnt realize that this chick with the awesome voice was of Portishead. She can change her voice at any given time which is what threw me! From when I first heard this CD I was drawn to this CD like a magnet. My particular favorite is Track 4 "Romance" which music has hints of late 40's 50's band music even though its a slow song. Track 5 is my most played song "Sand River". It is in my opinion the best song on the album

Average customer rating:

The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Vol. 3

Manufacturer: Film Score Monthly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

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The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Book: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of a Television Classic

ASIN: B0006SSQ8O
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

First Season Main Title [Revised/Extended]
Jerry Goldsmith Medley: The Deadly Games Affair/The Vulcan ...
Quadripartite Affair
Double Affair, Suite No. 2
Belly Laughs
Finny Foot Affair
Fiddlesticks Affair, Suite No. 2
Yellow Scarf Affair
Meet Mr. Solo
Spy With My Face
Discotheque Affair, Suite No. 2
Nowhere Affair
U.N.C.L.E. A Go Go
Bat Cave Affair
One of Our Spies Is Missing
Monks of St. Thomas Affair, Suite No. 2
Spy in the Green Hat
Gerald Fried Medley: The Foreign Legion Affair/The Apple a Day Affair
Karate Killers
Richard Shores Medley: The Summit-Five Affair/The "J" for Judas Affair

Tracks:

Girl from U.N.C.L.E. Main Title
Dog-Gone Affair
Prisoner of Zalamar Affair
Mother Muffin Affair
Mata Hari Affair
Montori Device Affair
Horns-of-the-Dilemma Affair
Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (End Title)
Deadly Quest Affair: Teaser
Deadly Quest Affair: Act 1
Deadly Quest Affair: Act 2
Deadly Quest Affair: Act 3
Deadly Quest Affair: Act 4

Average customer rating:

Early beautiful meditative Cage

Complete Piano Music, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: MD&G Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

John Cage - Complete Piano Music, Vol. 3 - "Music Of Changes" / Schleiermacher
John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 8 (Hommage à Satie)
John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 2
John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 7
John Cage: Complete Piano Music, Vol. 5 (Two Pianos)

ASIN: B0000021HL
Release Date: 1997-10-21

Tracks:

Bucchanale
Totem Ancestor
And The Earth Shall Bear Again
Primative
I.
II.
Our Spring Will Come
A Room
Tossed As It Is Untroubled
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
VI.
Root Of An Unfocus

Tracks:

The Unavailable Memory Of
Spontaneous Earth
Triple Paced
I.
II.
III.
Prelude For Meditation
Mysterious Adventure
Daughters Of The Lonesome Isle
Music For Marcel Duchamp
I.
II.

Tracks:

Sonata I.
Sonata II.
Sonata III.
Sonata IV.
Interlude I.
Sonata V.
Sonata VI.
Sonata VII.
Sonata VIII.
Interlude II.
Interlude III.
Sonata IX.
Sonata X.
Sonata XI.
Sonata XII.
Interlude IV.
Sonata XIII.
Sonata XIV.
Sonata XV.
Sonata XVI.

Customer Reviews:

Early beautiful meditative Cage.......2005-01-26

You will not be disappointed or dismissive of this early music, primarily for prepared piano, an instrument that has sort of fallen out of existence. I know of no vigorous repertoire that had followed Cage's innovations. The idea for placing nuts and bolts, woodscrews and erasers between the piano's internal strings was from Henry Cowell, a piano timbral innovator in his own right. Cage developed the instrument as an accompaniment to the performances of Merce Cunningham dance in the early Forties, and the idea simple took off toward theatre,toward performance art and associative images, Lincoln Kirstein also commissioned works from Cage. Well here you get the full weight of this repertoire, and my favorite is "Perilous Night", it reveals the "subjectivity" residing in Cage despite his numerous attempts to circumvent his persona, Well it comes through here although you always sense that timbre and rhythm remain the primary focus of this early music.Also the un=prepared works, single exposed threadbare lines are what interested early Cage .The timbral differences of the piano preparation are interesting in and of itself and seem to engage concept and image;as "prelude and meditation",a minimal work of three four lines, only a few strings are prepared, or the "Music for Marcel Duchamp" where only the middle register of the piano is utilized with a single melody written in alto clef. This work has more a lyric interest yet having a deeply sombre feel to it.

The more expansive "Sonatas and Interludes" are all here, and there are now dozens of recordings,(like a standard within the repertoire,as Chopin's "preludes") and some play them fast(Joshua Pierce) others slow. I prefer the John Tilbury, Decca recording (now unavailable) but here as well the renderings/readings are quite engaging. The negative feature to all this music is that the timbre seems to never suggest anything more than what it is, it is like anything remains beautiful. Perhaps that is why there has not been a "thousand flowers" blooming from this instrument. It has astatic quality to it,one-dimensional. Cage you feel knew this and did introduce as much variety, distributions of densities, and rhythms, textures, and the structural plan as well adheres to maintaining an agenda for variety. The "Sonatas" here being the primary focus, the exposition, and the "Interludes" the digression relief from the gestural whole.

Average customer rating:

Another great trip down the MFU memory lane
The best of the three Double CDs ORIGINAL soundtrack release

The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Vol. 2

Manufacturer: Film Score Monthly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Vol. 3
Man from U.N.C.L.E.
The Saint/Secret Agent
In Like Flint / Our Man Flint: Original Motion Picture Soundtracks

ASIN: B0006SSQ7U
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Tracks:

First Season End Title
Vulcan Affair (Suite No. 2)
Iowa-Scuba Affair
Shark Affair
Deadly Games Affair (Suite No. 2)
Meet Mr. Solo
Giuoco Piano Affair
King of Knaves Affair: Suite No. 2
First Season Main Title [Revised]
Deadly Decoy Affair
Spy With My Face
Second Season Main Title
Alexander the Greater Affair
Ultimate Computer Affair
Very Important Zombie Affair
Dippy Blonde Affair
Seadly Goddess Afair
Moonglow Affair

Tracks:

One of Our Spies Is Missing
Third Season Main Title
Sort of Do-It-Youself Dreadful Affair
Galatea Affair
Pop Art Affair
Come With Me to the Casbah Affair
Off-Broadway Affair
Concrete Overcoat Affair
Napoleon's Tomb Affair
Alternate Fourth Season Main Title
Fourth Season (End Title)
Test Tube Killer Affair
Prince of Darkness Affair
Seven Wonders of the World Affair

Customer Reviews:

Another great trip down the MFU memory lane.......2005-10-19

Volume 2 (comprised of 2 CDs) is another first rate compilation of the series' original music and not to be missed by U.N.C.L.E. fans. The liner notes are wonderful and add a lot to ones appreciation of the music.

My only problem is that THE CDs ARE COPY PROTECTED! Considerable work is needed to get the music onto your iPod, if you really want the music in your mp3 collection. This is a major hassle and a surprise, since the first set in the series was not copy protected.

The best of the three Double CDs ORIGINAL soundtrack release.......2005-07-12

Many of us have always thought The Man From UNCLE had the best music for a TV series ever, and this three double CD release confirms this. Wow! I'd be just happy with one CD, but having SIX (three double CDs packages) is absolutely out of this world, I mean, a lifetime wait come true.

Indeed, this is an unbelievable collection of three double CDs packages with the complete series soundtrack, and I mean the complete music, not a tune is missing.

And this is the ORIGINAL Man From Uncle music. Let me stress the point: this is the four years ORIGINAL soundtrack with the original recordings as they were heard throughout the series, not a no-name orchestra doing personal versions of the stuff. The audio transfer is very, very good, the music from late episodes is even in stereo.

Each individual CD carries over 70 minutes of music. All in all there you have the four TV seasons main titles and all, absolutely all of TMFU unforgetable music.

This is not a chronological release, meaning, all CDs have a mix of music from all four TV seasons. Volume 1 is heavier on early TV seasons stuff, fans of Jerry Goldsmith will love it. Those of us who prefer what Gerald Fried and later Richard Shores did with TMFU music, then volume 2 is mandatory. If you are a fan, you can't miss any of these six CDs. However if buying all three double packages is too much for you, you must go with Volume 2, no questions asked. Volume three is the weakest of them as it brings "suites" and a whole CD with "The Girl From Uncle" soundtrack, but you have a bonus "Open Channel D" beeper.

Each package is gorgeous, each with a glossy color booklet with extensive liner notes with details on how each tune was written to a specific TV series episode and how it was used onwards. You have bios on the composers, on how the recordings were made, even an overview on how many instruments were available in each of the years the music was recorded.

So, throw away your Hugo Montenegro Man From Uncle CD, this is the REAL thing.

Average customer rating:

The VOICE!
A new sound form the ears of a portishead lover.
This is a must!

Out of Season

Manufacturer: Universal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

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Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000088NFB
Release Date: 1990-10-08

Tracks:

Mysteries
Tom The Model
Show
Romance
Sand River
Spider Monkey
Resolve
Drake
Funny Time Of Year
Rustin Man
Spider Monkey - Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man
Tom The Model - Beth Gibbons & Rustin Man
Funny Time Of Year

Album Description

French reissue of 2002 album includes three bonus live tracks, 'Tom The Model', 'Spider Monkey', 'Funny Time Of The Year', recorded at the Olympia Nov. 11, 2002. Go Beat.

Album Details

You'll Know Gibbons from Portishead and Rustin Man is Paul from Talk Talk. It's an Exquisitely Melodic, Haunting Album, Yet at the Same Time it Has a Spiritual Depth and Palpable Human Emotion. Those who Love Nick Drake Or Nina Simone and Even Fans of Radiohead Will Find this Album Most Interesting. Special Edition with Three Bonus Live Tracks Recorded at Paris' Olympia Theatre in November 2002: "Tome the Model", "Spider Monkey" and "Funny Time of Year".

Customer Reviews:

The VOICE!.......2005-05-18

The voice of this woman! The most haunting, beautiful voice I've ever heard! Put this album on when you're down(or when you want to be) and it is NIRVANA I tell you! Amazing vocals, amazing instrumentals and amazing overall. Both Mysteries and Tom The Model are beautiful songs that I would bring with me to a desert island(among others).

A new sound form the ears of a portishead lover........2003-09-12

Grate Album, If you like "Portishead" I've heard mixed emotions about it. But the way I see it "It's not Portishead", Its gibbons and the R-MAN. manifesting a new sound :newer: from the crud they SOMETIMES can play on the radio Exmpt.ASU'THE BLAZE' That's were I heard this CD. A mix of 60's peace love folk, depressive tracks and Beths good-old strings and strong but velvet voice, with a hint of that trip-hop. I'm not sure if to take a stroll in the park or shoot some H. the park is always better,, w/H "Just kidding"
over all if you like "Portishead" buy it. You like the demo tracks " buy it"
Go to the web site and listen, you like it, BUY IT !! [...]

EquinoX

This is a must!.......2003-04-22

I have to confess that I liked the "Dummy" album by Portishead and quite often, when you have high expectations, there is a bit of an anticlimax when you listen to the "next one" (in this case, this is not QUITE the next one, I know).
Anyway, this CD did wonders to my folk psychology: The Tracks are rather diverse, melodic and guitar+vocals arrangement contrast to sound carpets we know from previous albums. Whatever you may think of the rest, any one of the three tracks "mysteries". "tom the model" or - my favourite, "funny time of the year" will be more than worth the albums cost.
Recommended!!

Average customer rating:

F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.!
At LAST the complete series ORIGINAL soundtrack, the wait is over!

The Man From U.N.C.L.E.

Manufacturer: Film Score Monthly
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Vol. 2
The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Vol. 3
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Book: The Behind-the-Scenes Story of a Television Classic
Man from U.N.C.L.E.
In Like Flint / Our Man Flint: Original Motion Picture Soundtracks

ASIN: B0006SSQ8E
Release Date: 2005-01-04

Tracks:

First Season Main Title
Vulcan Affair
Deadly Games Affair
Double Affair
Project Strigas Affair
King of Knaves Affair
Fiddlesticks Affair
Meet Mr. Solo
First Season End Title
Second Season End Title
Alexander the Greater Affair

Tracks:

Foxes and Hounds Affair
Discotheque Affair
Re-Collectors Affair
Arabian Affair
Tigers Are Coming Affair
Cherry Blossom Affair
Dippy Blonde Affair
Third Season End Title
Her Master's Voice Affair
Monks of St. Thomas Affair
Pop Art Affair
Fourth Season (Main Title)
Summit-Five Affair
"J" for Judas Affair

Customer Reviews:

F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C.!.......2006-02-02

I've got the original music (including v2 and v3), the books (the best is Heitland's The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Book; still in print);
the 22 VHS tapes issued in the early 1990's (a haphazard collection issued in no particular order of episodes that boasted famous guest stars). Can I please get the whole series on DVD? I have not seen Mother Fear toying with Illya (The Children's Day Affair) in over 40 years.

At LAST the complete series ORIGINAL soundtrack, the wait is over!.......2005-07-12