A conversation with a friend (yep, that would be you, Andy!) earlier today reminded me that I'd wanted to devote a blog post to a favorite band. Delerium won my ear and my heart with Karma, Semantic Spaces, Poem, and most recently with Chimera.
Now, I love lots of other music and artists... Jeff Buckley, Mary Fahl (both solo work and October Project), VAST, Live, Mythos, Loreena McKennitt, Tori Amos, Kate Bush, Kaitell Keineg, REM, and older U2 before Bono took it into his head to save the world through politics. And lots more... Blue Oyster Cult, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cat Stevens, Pink Floyd, Grant Lee Phillips...
Nothing beats Ani DiFranco's The Past Didn't Go Anywhere collaboration with Utah Phillips for pure political commentary put to music, IMO... but there's always room for improvement, and I've got an open ear. ;)
I don't think another CD has ever stayed so long in my CD player as Delerium's Chimera, with the possible exceptions of Shadow of the Moon by Blackmore's Night, Mythos by Mythos, or Grace by Jeff Buckley. VAST "Visual Audio Sensory Theatre" has had an awfully long stay in the CD tray lately.
Delerium seems to deserve a special mention, though... mainly because it takes a lot to leave me feeling good these days, and Delerium's music seems to do that best - even at work. Liquid bliss, without a bad track to be skipped: The best selection of female voices this side of heaven featured as guest vocalists - if the other side has a better set I can't wait to get there (I prefer not to think about the alternative of not getting there)... unless, of course, the music in hell is more to my liking. ;)
Delerium!
Sunni says:
Ooooh! Some new things to look for! Thanks, Cat!! :)
Bob Wallace says:
Of all things, Loreena McKennitt's music made it into the Kurt Russell movie, Soldier.
Monika says:
How nice to see someone who also likes Loreena and Jeff Buckely!
Have you checked out the Legacy Collection on cd/dvd? Plenty of extra material.
Do you like Steeleye Span? They sing traditional ballads with modern arrangements, for exapmle, "Bedlam Born", "Tomas The Rhymer". They're Loreena meets Led Zeppelin - sounds weird but the outcome is great.
Cat says:
My pleasure, Sunni! :)
Bob, I haven't seen Soldier, but I do like Kurt Russell - he and Goldie Hawn were wonderful in Overboard, which is one of my favorite movies. If I remember correctly, Loreena McKennitt also did the soundtrack for The Burning Times which I saw once many years ago.
Monika, I don't think I have the Legacy Collection you refer to. I think I have just about everything that Jeff Buckley recorded before he died and is commercially available on CD, and the Mystery White Boy video. I've been trying to stay away from music stores... I secretly suspect the sales clerks cheer behind the counter when they see me walk into the store where I buy most of my CDs. ;)
I haven't kept up with new releases recently, and the last new one of Loreena's I recall was Quinlan Road, I think, which I didn't buy since I had the songs on other albums.
Others have recommended Steeleye Span; I believe I've heard one or two of their popular songs in years past. Thanks for the suggestion, I'll add them to my list for the next adventure through the used CD racks! I suppose I'm due for a new music binge by now... :)
A final thought regarding Delerium - the music feels soft and complex; I love the fact that I can play it at work (unlike many of my favorites). It may not grab the ear right away... I have found with a couple of new Delerium CDs that after the first few spins, I'll put the CD aside for a while, and when it goes back into the CD player weeks or months later that's when it really gets me. So I'd suggest being patient - it's the sort of music that seems to grow better with each repeated listen, IMO, rather than the opposite which seems typical of Top 40 tunes.
Sunni says:
Yah, Steeleye Span is good! I get All Around My Hat or One Misty Moisty Morning in my head, and they tend to be there all day ... unlike many other songs, that's not as unwelcome as it might sound.