Shine

See Larger Image	List Price: £5.99 Our Price: £3.98 Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours Manufacturer: Universal Classics Average Customer Rating:


Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0028947346029 Label: Universal Classics Manufacturer: Universal Classics Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Universal Classics Release Date: 2002-11-04 Running Time: 58 Studio: Universal Classics
Related Items Born Classified Bond - Live At The Royal Albert Hall [2001] Remixed Explosive - The Best of Bond
Editorial Reviews: Bond is back. The all-girl string quartet which rocked the classical establishment back in 2000 has returned with a second album, Shine. Bond's first disc, Born, was famously banned from the classical charts--it was crossover alright, but crossed over a bit too much to still be considered a classical release. Shine, however, is unashamedly popular from start to finish. Don't be misled by the thick booklet—it's crammed, not with details of the14 tracks (three of which were written by the Bond girls), but with glossy shots of the pouting four alongside a couple of tigers and a gleaming motorbike and not a fiddle in sight. In the space of two years, Bond has achieved phenomenal international success with healthy record and ticket sales throughout Europe as well as in the Far East, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Shine reflects this with musical influences ranging from India to South America. But this is far from world music; every track has been so heavily produced that the string quartet sound is all but lost amid heavy beats and electronic effects. At its best, Shine is a dance album with a bit of a limp; at its worst it's pure Hooked on Classics. --Rebecca Agnew
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Superb encore Comment: Better than 'Born'. The quartet have reached new heights. The music will not appeal to everyone but it appeals to me. This album would be a good match to 'Bombay Jazz Palace' the music has the same mystical east undercurrents. Gone are the 'Hooked on Classics' mixes in are sitars and bongos. I was quite hesitant at giving the album a full 5 Stars as I normally reserve that for Albums that have stood the test of time, but this is definitely a good one. Customer Rating: Summary: personal prefferance Comment: I first heard a couple of tracks on the radio and was impressed with the modern way the music was put together using classical instruments.There is a couple of tracks that have a beat which makes the bond instruments sound as if they are backing a electronic drum machine,I cannot fault what is played with the violins/viola/cello but if I could change anything I would loose the beat machine or move the microphone nearer the classical sound. Customer Rating: Summary: Fantastic! Comment: WOW. I put this in my CD player, and I heard so many indesrcibable sounds - fantastic, original, pleasing. I am so pleased after buying this CD - it is probably the best value for money item I've ever bought - I use it so much! I can't get enough of Bond - from the girl's version of Karl Jenkins' Palladio, to works by Albinoni and Magnus Fiennes, other modern composers, as well as music by the girls themselves. From the energy of Fuego and Alegretto, to the Led Zeppelin cover Kashmir and Bond on Bond - the best James Bond theme cover I've ever heard. This album ROCKS! BUY IT NOW! Customer Rating: Summary: Where was the passion? Comment: I hate to say this as I was one of the first people to write an extremely favourable review of their first album, but Shine, didn't! The music and artistic quality is of course above exceptional, but the tracks are not as appealing as Born proved they could do. Whereas Born had the excellent Victory, Shine has nothing to even compare. A couple of the tracks are slightly "toe-tapping" and while all are wonderful to listen to, there are perhaps only two tunes which immediately stood out: Strange Paradise and Bond on Bond. The latter being a reworking of the classic James Bond theme. I know that Bond were severely and unfairly penalised by the classic charts because they weren't recognised as classical and weren't exactly pop, but at least with Born the music was powerful and made an impact. With shine, the music is pure easy listening, "I'll put you on in the background but not really going to listen to". Which is a shame and a total waste. Bond are 4 of the best classical musicians at the moment, but alas this album is mediocre. Perhaps we were spoilt by Born, but I was hoping for a lot more, and sadly it failed to deliver. Customer Rating: Summary: Shine - Bond girls strike gold once more. Comment: A wonderful second album from four supremely talented and beautiful young ladies. I had to import this album, as I couldn't wait the extra few weeks until it was released in the UK...and I wasn't disappointed! "Shine" certainly has a more upbeat and techno-pop feel than "Born", and has a more worldly influence for many of the tracks. However, the girls' individual talents seem to have been under-used this time round, with hardly any technically taxing pieces of music for the girls to play with, (which, in my opinion, is a great shame). Nevertheless, I thoroughly enjoyed every track on its own merits. All in all, "Shine" certainly doesn't work the girls as hard as in "Born", and far more techno stuff is used this time round, but as an album to enjoy listening to, it is joint top with their earlier effort! I'd like to see Bond perform some more cover versions for future albums...maybe "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd, or how about the fun and excitement the girls (and their fans) could have with the theme to "Deliverance"? Let's have more fun tracks such as "Korobushko" and "Duel" from the first album. Some people have suggested that Bond are concentrating more on photo-shoots and their image than on their musical talents with this album...I MUST DISAGREE. The Bond girls are all very beautiful, and are not ashamed to let us see that fact. Everyone knows that 'sex sells', and as far as the girls are concerned, 'If you've got it, Flaunt it' comes to mind. I don't mind seeing them scantily-clad within the album cover, and I for one wouldn't complain if they decided to 'clad' themselves even more 'scantily' next time! Here are my views on each track from "Shine" :- 1.Allegretto:-A very catchy classical piece played to an accompanying disco drum beat, and with a fantastic pizzicato section in the middle, (more of these please!). This tune has a very 'hooked-on-classics' feel, and will have you humming and whistling it permanently, as you won't be able to get it out of your head for weeks! 2.Shine:-The title track, and first single from the album, this is clearly inspired by the Asian culture. A pleasing sound, very commercial production-wise, and asks more of the girls than many of the other tracks. 3.Fuego:-Another classical-inspired track that will almost certainly be released as a single, with the same sort of appeal as "Viva" and "Victory" from their first album. (I particularly liked the ending of this track, which should really make Haylie work when performed live). 4.Strange Paradise:-A melodic interpretation of a piece by Borodin, played to a deep techno-beat background for the most part. Pleasing to the ear, and very easy to listen to. 5.Speed:-Sure to be a popular track with most people, I found that the synthesizer track merged too much with the strings at times, so I could hardly hear the girls play. However, it's still good to listen to. 6.Big Love Adagio:-Clearly, a version of Albinoni's classical Adagio, this mellow piece allows all four girls to show their abilities more than any other track, and so the drum beat in the background is hardly noticed. Superb. 7.Kashmir:-When I first saw the title of this track, I dearly hoped that it would somehow be a cover of the classic Led Zeppelin track...and it is!!! An absolutely fantastic version of an already superb track, with at last some proper drums accompanying the music. I particularly liked the violin interpretation of the Zep.lyrics, although I wasn't quite sure until the second playing. I can't stop listening to this track! 8.Gypsy Rhapsody:-A fun, vibrant and quirky rendition with heavy Middle-Eastern influences, this will undoubtedly be another favourite with many, (including myself). I can really imagine the girls enjoying themselves whilst playing this live. 9.Libertango:-I really enjoyed this Piazzola tune whilst trying to decide whether it was mainly of Italian, Spanish, French, or Latin origin...maybe it was a fusion of all four styles? I couldn't help but think of the Mafia when I heard this track, much like with "Belladonna" from "Born". 10.Sahara:-Hugely influenced by Middle-Eastern music, this is a fascinating track with a mellow verse and sprightly chorus, which I assume Haylie, wrote so she could enjoy herself. A mixture of styles makes this track so interesting, and I also enjoyed the pipe playing. 11.Ride:-This is a faster track with special effects heavily used in the background, but these only enhance the mood of the music, with interesting techno-voice lyrics adding meaning to the track. I can see Eos penning several more tracks in future, due to their popularity with the fans. 12.Space:-A fabulous, slow, bass techno-beat dominates this track, where the girls just seem to be playing an accompaniment to this beat...but I just love it!!! It's another track I can't get out of my head. Although not demanding in the slightest for girls of such incredible talent, it's still has a hypnotising effect that will make it a favourite. 13.Bond On Bond:-A fine interpretation of the 007 theme, (better than the original by far), it still seems a little out of place on this album...but it's a bonus track anyway, so who's going to complain? I haven't been able to stop listening to this album since I received it...and long may my enjoyment continue. More Reviews