Storm review

De browser ondersteunt geen in line frames of is momenteel zodanig geconfigureerd dat in line frames niet kunnen worden weergegeven.

STORM: POWERFUL, DYNAMIC, VERSATILE, DARING!!

VANESSA-MAE'S 2ND POP ALBUM

A CONTINUOUS ADVENTURE INTO MODERNISM AND CLASSICISM

Storm - track listing

1 Summer Haze - original arr. Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
2 Storm - original arr. Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
3 Retro - Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
4 Bach Street Prelude - original arr. Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
5 Leyenda - Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
6 (I) Can, Can (You) - original arr. Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
7 Happy Valley - Andy Hill, Pamela Nicholson, Vanessa-Mae
8 A Poets Quest (For A Distant Paradise) - Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
9 Embrace Moi - Andy Hill, Page
10 Aurora - Andy Hill, Ian Wherry
11 I' Am A Doun - Vanessa-Mae
12 I Feel Love - Summer, Moroder, Bellotte
13 Hocus Pocus - Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman
14 The Blessed Spirits - Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae

(Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, Comforts Place Studios, CTS Studios and Whitfield Street Studios)

Overall impression:

After proofing with the 'Classical Album 1' that a dual pop and classical career is possible, Vanessa-Mae returned to the pop oriented side of her musicianship with her new album. On 'Storm,' Vanessa-Mae elaborates further on her techno-acoustic fusion concepts that so successfully catapulted her into word wide fame. 'Storm' is daring, is more dynamic and more versatile than 'The Violin Player.' Where 'The Violin Player' was a first try-out step into the launch of a new musical concept, 'Storm' develops the framework of the new concept further into maturity and sophistication. The album contains of famous pop songs in new and original arrangements , one modern and embellished version of a movement of Vivaldi's 'Four Seasons,' and several new compositions primarily by Andy Hill and Vanessa-Mae. This all together forms a mix that makes 'Storm' a brilliant album without any weak points. The music gives Vanessa-Mae all the possibilities to excel and to show her unique technical skills and that she has grown as musician, composer and violinist, and, moreover, to proof that she is much more than only the cute beautiful young girl who gained attention by the famous heavily discussed video of 'Toccata & Fugue,' that she in fact is a skilled creative and high profile musician. 'Storm' takes Vanessa-Mae in her career to another level; a level only artists usually reach who are able to sustain success and creativity. On this album, Vanessa-Mae adds singing lead vocals to her repertoire too. In this she never overestimates the limited vocal abilities of her soft voice. On the contrary, Vanessa-Mae's soft voice singing is actually very nice and effectively on Donna Summer's soul classic 'I Feel Love' and on her own composition 'I Am A Doun' that was already on the 'Classical Album 1.'

The art work:

Three versions for the art work for 'Storm' exist depending of the region of release. There is the European release, an USA release and an Asian release. All three have different cover photos, but the inside of the booklets for the European and Asian releases are the same. The booklet of the USA release contains less information, especially the personal notes were severely limited, in different design. Below are given the three cover photo version and the inside of the European and Asian releases - click the thumbnails to view real size photos. Scans of the covers and discs of the American and Asian releases are at the bottom line.

The art work is well designed, appropriately to support and portray a highly skilled and profiled beautiful artist like Vanessa-Mae. Vanessa-Mae herself commented on the European cover photo in words as: it looks like if I had come home from a party walking through the rain and storm and went on without taking the time to clean off my make-up.

The booklet provides a track listing with credits to composers, arrangements, musicians and vocalists, as well as the texts of the vocal parts. In a personal note, Vanessa-Mae expresses her gratitude towards all who helped and supported her to create this new album. Moreover, Vanessa-Mae comments on three of the tracks, namely: 'Bach Street Prelude,' 'Happy Valley' and 'I Am a Doun.' She explains why she abandoned the academic approach of the original solo violin version in 'Bach Street Prelude.' This explanation is also an answer to her critics who held the opinion that classical music should be played according to the intention of the composers as written down in the scores. For 'happy Valley' she writes on the historical significance. She tells that the piece, although its classical nature, represents modern times and should therefore be included on this album - 'Happy Valley' is also on the 'Classical Album 2: China Girl.' Regarding 'I Am A Doun,' Vanessa-Mae writes on the purity of love that she hopes is conveyed in this poetic song. Singing the vocal part, inspired her in performing the original composition by Bruch - see 'Classical Album 1.'

Description of the tracks

1 Summer Haze - original arr. Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
Instrumental intro of the album. The song starts quietly as omen of a sensational event that will follow soon, and it develops into the storm and lightning of track 2. Summer Haze is a great warming-up for the entire album. Everyone who likes this start will not cease to listen to the complete album.

2 Storm - original arr. Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
Storm is Vanessa-Mae pop arrangement of 'Tempo Impetuoso d'Estate' the 6th movement of Vivaldi's 'The Four Seasons' and the 3rd part of 'Summer.' Storm is up tempo, and represents a summer storm with rain and lightning. Vanessa-Mae's modern version is brilliant and makes one very curious to hear her classical version of the entire 'Four Seasons' Eventually, her 'Original Four Seasons' form the 'Classical Album 3.'

3 Retro - Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
'Retro' forms a transition piece between the overwhelming start of the first two tracks and the follow up of the next songs. Initially, Retro appears to be without a beginning, an end and a kind of song leading to nowhere. On second thought after repeatedly listening, 'Retro' is a wonderful duet between drums, guitars and Vanessa-Mae's violin.

4 Bach Street Prelude - original arr. Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
'Bach Street Prelude' shows everything that Vanessa-Mae stands for. It is a modernised, nice and brilliant arrangement of the original 'Preludio' the first movement of Bach's 'Partita no 3 for solo violin' as it appears on Vanessa-Mae's 'classical Album 1.' The piece brings together classical music and the modernism of pop music. The music radiates creativity, enthusiasm and sheer joy. The use of dust bins as drums is unique and shows that objects can interact with each other and create synergy successfully by going beyond their originally intended purposes, as do classical music and modern pop music in the philosophy of Vanessa-Mae. 'Bach Street Prelude' represents everything why Vanessa-Mae enjoys making her music.

5 Leyenda - Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
'Leyenda' is a superb song with the duet between electric guitar and Vanessa-Mae's acoustic violin. The piece is exciting, surprising and much more.

6 (I) Can, Can (You) - original arr. Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
An up tempo version of a familiar classic of pop music. Vanessa-Mae's strong violin play conveys a contagious mood of joy to the listener.

7 Happy Valley - Andy Hill, Pamela Nicholson, Vanessa-Mae
Vanessa-Mae wrote this piece together with Andy Hill for the re-unification of Hong Kong to China. Vanessa-Mae explains the music as 'as piece of hope and a dance of joy.' The text is written by Pamela Nicholson, Vanessa-Mae's mother; the vocals are by the Ladies Choir led by Xiao Ping Li.. 'Happy Valley' is also on 'The Classical Album 2: China Girl,' and it is of modern classical nature. It is Vanessa-Mae's most complex composition at that time.

8 A Poets Quest (For A Distant Paradise) - Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
A beautiful quiet song with vocal support for solo violin of Vanessa-Mae by the London Voices led by Terry Edwards. ' A Poets Quest' has a very special and mysterious mood.

9 Embrasse Moi - Andy Hill, Page
'Embrasse Moi' brings Vanessa-Mae as singer to the listener. It is the only song of the album without a violin part.

10 Aurora - Andy Hill, Ian Wherry
Vanessa-Mae played 'Aurora' already at her 'Red Hot Tour' concerts. There she introduced the song as the rebirth of life to earth after a devastating world wide disaster.

11 I'Am A Doun - Vanessa-Mae
'I Am A Doun' is Vanessa-Mae's own arrangement of an old Scottish folk song. It conveys the purity of real love. Vanessa-Mae was inspired by an old poem that she found while researching for the 'Scottish Fantasy' by Max Bruch. Vanessa-Mae sings the intro that fluently continues with her solo violin part. The accompanying parts of guitar and drums are very nice. 'I Am a Doun' is an beautiful composition and is already present on 'The Classicla Album 1.'

12 I Feel Love - Donna Summer, Moroder, Bellotte
Vanessa-Mae acts as lead vocalist on Donna Summer's pop classic. Her soft monotonous voice gives the song a very special and unique mood. The violin intermezzo forms an effective variation in the whole song.

13 Hocus Pocus - Thijs van Leer, Jan Akkerman
A brilliant version of Thijs van Leers and Jan Akkerman's famous composition. Vanessa-Mae's violin adequately mimics the voice of Thijs van Leer in the vocal parts of the original.

14 The Blessed Spirits - Andy Hill, Vanessa-Mae
'The Blessed Spirits' form a superb final track of the album. The piece starts quietly with guitar, but when after a while Vanessa-Mae starts on violin the whole song gradually develops to a exciting climax that makes your skin crawl.

Hit Counter