NEW AGE MUSIC VOCALS UNLIKE ANYTHING ELSE OUT THERE
author: NOTES & CHORDS
The vocals on the new Aomusic album (..and Love Rages On!) are pretty much unlike anything else out there. Sure, group member Richard Gannaway sings a tiny bit of English lyrics here and there; and Miriam Stockley (formerly the voice of the best-selling group Adiemus and one of the most acclaimed new age vocalists of our time) sings both layered wordless vocals and a few syllables, words and phrases from various foreign languages. But also thrown into this mix are children’s choirs from the United States, South Africa, China and the Republic of Georgia (the Eastern Bloc country), all recorded on location. The songs that have children singing on them are: “Gaiya Lo Mane” (a USA choir), “In Lake’Ch” (a Republic of Georgia choir), “Ena Na Lena” (South Africa and USA choirs) and “One Kaleo” (a choir from China).
Pure excitement, passion and pleasure immediately shine through the vocals (even if there are no words, or no words in our language, to get a clear meaning from). In the context of this album the voices are truly used as additional instruments, but ones that convey immense human feeling.
Both the vocals and the instrumentation contain elements from around the world, and from throughout the ages. That is sort of the point with Aomusic. They are ambassadors of worldly sounds, not world music so much because that connotes music from one country, but true world-fusion music, bringing together and fusing many elements. The music is thick, full-bodied, well-produced and generally upbeat. Guaranteed to get your feet tapping and put a smile on your face.
Read more...
The RajMan Review
author: Raj Manoharan (www.rajmanreviews.blogspot.com)
You can’t help but feel the love on this joyous and exuberant celebration of the diversity of life throughout this planet. This is one of the most uplifting and inspiring albums I have had the pleasure of listening to in a long time.
AOMUSIC primarily consists of Richard Gannaway (stringed instruments, vocals), Jay Oliver (keyboards, synthesizers, samples), and Miriam Stockley (vocals), all of whom are also the principal composers and songwriters. They are backed by an impressive lineup of top session musicians and vocalists hailing from and recording in various parts of the world.
While most of the songs contain vocals, they are wordless vocals, or vocalese. In many cases, they are phonetically based on existing languages, helping create the sense of all the different languages of the world blending into one unified voice. In some cases, actual English can be discerned, such as on the second track’s deep baritone intonation of “I am another you…You are another me.” The throaty, raspy vocalization is so shadowy and sinister that it’s almost subliminal, which is probably the intent so as to foster focused reception of the message. The song then ends with a beautiful chorus of “I am you and you are me” ad infinitum.
A key ingredient in the success of this album is the utilization of various children’s choirs from around the world, including the CRC Children’s Choir from Beijing in the People’s Republic of China, the Martve Children’s Choir from Tbilisi in the People’s Republic of Georgia, and the Bishop Bavin St. George’s Children’s Choir from Johannesburg, South Africa. This bolsters the concept of different cultures and peoples coming together for a common goal – in this case a much-needed musical message.
This is a very enjoyable and stimulating album. If you like the global rock stylings of artists such as Peter Gabriel and Sting, as well as various ethnic vocals, you’ll dig this.
Read more...
AO Music: One World, One Voice on new CD …and Love Rages On!
author: shemusic33
One World, One People, One Voice: the message is in the music of ….and Love Rages On! With their new album, AO Music have created a collection of global grooves that manage to be both soothing and propulsive. The music’s cinematic sweep and an impressive dynamic range combines booming, percussive cadences from all over the world with melodic vocal and instrumental interludes – recorded in real time by real musicians -- and the sounds of children’s choirs from the United States, South Africa, China and the Republic of Georgia.
Read more...
Music with a message
author: Michael Diamond (www.michaeldiamondmusic.com)
AOMUSIC has been described as “a pan-cultural acoustic fusion of musical texture from around the globe… a commonwealth of spirit and celebration.” The first comparative reference point that came to mind as I began listening is the music of Peter Gabriel – although not surprising since they site him as a major influence, along with the likes of Deep Forest, Afro Celt Sound System, and Adiemus. AOMUSIC is comprised of three primary collaborators, Richard Gannaway (stringed instruments and vocals), Jay Oliver (keyboards and synth samples), and Miram Stockley (vocals). One of the most distinctive and integral facets in the sound of AOMUSIC is the inclusion of a variety of children’s choirs from around the world. While there are diverse musical elements and cultures represented, there is one overriding message of the album and of the group: “AOMUSIC is the spirit, color and timbre of global oneness. “
This album, which features powerful driving percussion and rhythmic tracks that uplift the spirit, also gets your head nodding and foot tapping as well. Beautifully crafted electronic textures and earthy stringed instruments blend with the groove and the vocal tracks to create a sound that “is derived from the purity of primitive world culture… and at the same time, is presented within a palette of modern timbre and production.”
AOMUSIC is a magical merging of accomplished professional musicians and blossoming young talent, and according to the group, “the goal is to never stray from a sense of purity and innocence. This album is majestic in its vision and magnificent in its presence, promoting a message of urgent relevance for our times.
For a full length review of this CD and others please visit: www.michaeldiamondmusic.com/blog
Read more...