[.ca] Angels Of Venice - An Exotic Trio Of Harp, Flute and ...

Outstanding!:
Lovely and lush, uplifting, driving and depthful...this one has it all and is one of my all time favorite recordings! The rich combination of Carol Tatum's harp, Laura Halladay's amazing flute descants, and Peggy Baldwin's cello with Joanne Paratore's keyboards and Christopher Pellani's Middle-Eastern style percussion gives a new twist to world fusion music. The arrangements by Carol Tatum are spectacular--full of mood, flair and texture, and ever-changing in delightful, unexpected ways. Some are completely original, while others are based on familiar medieval European tunes that have never seen such life before! All the musicians do some wildly virtuosic work here, taking turns like a jazz ensemble, and indeed there are many jazz-like elements to this music. Guest musicians include Sonja Drakulich of Stellamara, Azam Ali and Greg Ellis of Vas, Omar Faruk Tekbilek and Brian Keane. Three of the selections on this Windham Hill debut CD were recorded previously on the Angels' "Awake Inside a Dream", but the rest is new material, and the interspersal of the driving, exotic numbers with more lyrical pieces makes for a well-balanced listening experience, well worth having in addition to the predecessor CD. Don't miss it! If you like Angels of Venice, you're sure to also like Loreena McKennitt and the groups Stellamara and Vas.

So beautiful and relaxing.:
This is the most beautiful and relaxing CD I have listened to. The whimsical sounds of the harp and violin flow through the ear canal easing tension and relaxing muscles in the body. Your thoughts are adrift as the melodies chime. I highly recommend this CD for anyone who wants to have a peaceful moment to themselves while reading or sitting down on the sofa. It's an investement.

Elegant & Sublimely Superb:
Led by founding member Carol Tatum, Angels Of Venice was born in '91 and have thus created some of the most enchanting music imaginable! I don't listen to a lot of world or new age music anymore for my tastes have been gravitating more and more into Gothic territories lately but the melodies featured here are beyond that of grace--they are simply too beautiful for any known words. The lush soundscapes embrace and dance around the senses, either lifting your spirits with that of elation or causing you to sit back and weep at the emotional charge coursing through your body for little makes one feel as profoundly as music does (hence the reason for sound scores in movies). Angels Of Venice are driven by the harp, flute, cello, percussion, and several other exotic instruments in their gorgeous compositions, exploring many different styles by combining that of medieval, Celtic, neoclassical, middle eastern and even Japanese influences, sending the voyageur on an aural adventure, out of mind, but not to be forgotten.

Chamber music for the modern age:
I've been following the Angels of Venice since I first heard their version of Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" (which as a die-hard classical AND metal fan, I was deeply impressed with). The harp music is ethereal, and the songs have a great "meditative" feel, which allows for a deeper relaxation. Their soulful rhythms and fluent harmonies make this (and their other discs) worth picking up.

Angels of Venice:
This CD is a nice tempo...relaxing without putting you to sleep. Great background music. I will be listening to it often.

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