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From: etan@tellab1.UUCP (Nate Stelton)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: mini reviews
Message-ID: <599@tellab1.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 26-Sep-85 12:52:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: tellab1.599
Posted: Thu Sep 26 12:52:57 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Sep-85 05:40:57 EDT
Reply-To: etan@tellab3.UUCP (Nate Stelton)
Organization: Tellabs, Inc., Lisle, IL
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                              Mini Reviews #8


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Birdy Soundtrack -- Peter Gabriel

There is a warning on the jacket stating that there is recycled music and no
lyrics.  Take heed if this is a concern.  I have all the previous PG albums,
but I didn't recognize many of the old rhythm tracks used.  The album has
the aura of a collection of Eno-like sound sketches with very nice textures
throughout.  Definite melodic direction is often lacking, however, and this
would have caused tedium had Gabriel not had the good sense to end a piece
when "enough is enough".
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The Great Balloon Race -- Sky

Sky's music is a brand of fusion that has a stronger emphasis on
romantic-period classical music and schmaltzy European folkiness.  This
emphasis is underplayed on their new album, perhaps as a result of the departure
of guitar virtuoso John Williams.  The Sky level of quality is still there,
but the rockier direction loses some of the uniqueness Sky usually displays.
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Suzanne Vega

Everybody who listens over my shoulder makes the same observation:  it
sounds like poetry that had music written for it later on.  The folk-rock
music is mildly interesting at best, and at other times, it becomes an effort
for me to keep my mind from wandering.  Electric guitar, bass, and drums
provide a backdrop, but never step forward.   Suzanne sings all the tunes and
plays acoustic guitar, but her performances lack excitement and energy.
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The Dream of the Blue Turtle -- Sting

I found this album inconsistent in quality.  Occasionally, the fantastic
musician lineup on this recording gets a chance to shine, but much of the time
it sounds like it wouldn't matter who was playing.  Some of the charts are
really nice, and others sound like awkwardly constructed filler material.
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Mask -- Vangelis

No, this is not a soundtrack; at least not as far as I know.  Vangelis has
composed a orchestral/choral piece integrating synth-sequencer patterns that
reminds one of a modern-day Alexander Nevsky (Prokofiev).  Sometimes it
works, but other times it sounds amateurish.  A gallant effort, this, and I
think one of Vangelis' better ones.
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                                 -etan


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