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If the lush, sweeping strings and ambient beats of The Space Between Us seemed cinematic, As if to Nothing suggests an even bolder turn toward film score territory. It's an indication of how Armstrong's stock rose after Moulin Rouge was released and after his work with Massive Attack was featured in advertisements and soundtracks around the world that so many collaborators join the fray here. Bono, Evan Dando, Mogwai, Photek, and David McAlmont all attempt star turns, and less well-known performers from Big Dish, Alpha, and Laub get in on the festivities as well. But Armstrong's string arrangements are still the focal point, to the extent that most of the collaborators are relegated to a back seat. The album's high points mostly reside in the instrumentals, though Evan Dando's vocals break through the electronic wash in "Wake up in New York" and former Big Dish member Steven Lindsay's voice shines through on "Let It Be Love." Swati Natekar and Mogwai give a strong showing with "Miracle" and Alpha vocalist Wendy Stubbs' tenderly voiced "Sea Song" is sublime, though less studio polish would have aided both songs. The showy reworking of U2's "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" gives Bono the chance to emote like few contemporary U2 songs. The brilliant "Waltz" sees Laub's Antye Greie-Fuchs presenting a spoken-word manifesto over ambient gurgling. The instrumental "Inhaler" is a punishing change of pace, though it betrays a heavy Depeche Mode influence. Armstrong is certainly a talented studio technician, but there's a sense that he's relying too heavily on his patented string arrangements on As if to Nothing. While the album is another stylized dose of theatrical pop electronica, there is an undeniable feeling that Craig Armstrong is holding back.
© Tim DiGravina /TiVo
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Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Norris, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, Composer - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jenny O'Grady, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Vocal Arranger, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Graham, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Pete Lockett, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Jenny O'Grady and The Metro Voices, Choir
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Conductor, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - David Donaldson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Evan Dando, Producer, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Treahearn, Engineer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Guitar, Musical Director, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Ricky Graham, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - John Parricelli, Musician, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Ali MacLeod, Musician, AssociatedPerformer - Mat Fields , Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Steven Lindsay, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jan "Stan" Kybert, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - David Donaldson, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Cummings, Unknown, Other - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Andy Bradfield, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Graham, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Clark, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Mogwai, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Swati Natekar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hanif Khan, Tabla, AssociatedPerformer - Stuart Braithwaite, Unknown, Other
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, Composer - Andy Bradfield, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Uddin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Hilton, Composer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Craig Armstrong, Interprète Vocal, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd/Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - David Donaldson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Graham, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Antye Greie-Fuchs, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Greie-Fuchs, ComposerLyricist - David Paterson, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, Composer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Treahearn, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Graham, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Ali MacLeod, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mat Fields , Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jan "Stan" Kybert, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jenny O'Grady, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Vocal Arranger, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Graham, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Hilton, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Catherine Bott, Soprano, AssociatedPerformer - Photek, Keyboards, Programmer, Mix Engineer, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Jenny O'Grady and The Metro Voices, Choir
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - David Donaldson, Programmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Matt Dunkley, Engineer, Unknown, Other, StudioPersonnel - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Uddin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Treahearn, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Hilton, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - David McAlmont, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - McAlmont, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Allan, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Scott Frazer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Mat Fields , Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Pdub, Additional Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jan "Stan" Kybert, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Fripp, Composer - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Andy Bradfield, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Bruford, Composer - Keith Uddin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - John Wetton, Composer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Hilton, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - David Cross, Composer - Richard Palmer-James, Composer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Bono, Author, FeaturedArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer - Craig Armstrong, MainArtist - The Edge, Composer - Larry Mullen, Jr., Composer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd/Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, Composer - Andy Bradfield, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jake Davies, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Graham, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Stephen Hilton, Programming, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Lockett, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - David Donaldson, Engineer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Uddin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - David Treahearn, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Guitar, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Stephen Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer, AssociatedPerformer - Pete Lockett, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Ali MacLeod, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Wendy Stubbs, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Mat Fields , Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jan "Stan" Kybert, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Limited
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Richard Norris, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Keith Uddin, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Steven Lindsay, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Isobel Griffiths, Orchestra Contractor, AssociatedPerformer - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Geoff Foster, Recording Engineer, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jenny O'Grady, Production Coordinator, StudioPersonnel - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Vocal Arranger, Recording Arranger, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ricky Graham, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Jenny O'Grady and The Metro Voices, Choir
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Album review
If the lush, sweeping strings and ambient beats of The Space Between Us seemed cinematic, As if to Nothing suggests an even bolder turn toward film score territory. It's an indication of how Armstrong's stock rose after Moulin Rouge was released and after his work with Massive Attack was featured in advertisements and soundtracks around the world that so many collaborators join the fray here. Bono, Evan Dando, Mogwai, Photek, and David McAlmont all attempt star turns, and less well-known performers from Big Dish, Alpha, and Laub get in on the festivities as well. But Armstrong's string arrangements are still the focal point, to the extent that most of the collaborators are relegated to a back seat. The album's high points mostly reside in the instrumentals, though Evan Dando's vocals break through the electronic wash in "Wake up in New York" and former Big Dish member Steven Lindsay's voice shines through on "Let It Be Love." Swati Natekar and Mogwai give a strong showing with "Miracle" and Alpha vocalist Wendy Stubbs' tenderly voiced "Sea Song" is sublime, though less studio polish would have aided both songs. The showy reworking of U2's "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" gives Bono the chance to emote like few contemporary U2 songs. The brilliant "Waltz" sees Laub's Antye Greie-Fuchs presenting a spoken-word manifesto over ambient gurgling. The instrumental "Inhaler" is a punishing change of pace, though it betrays a heavy Depeche Mode influence. Armstrong is certainly a talented studio technician, but there's a sense that he's relying too heavily on his patented string arrangements on As if to Nothing. While the album is another stylized dose of theatrical pop electronica, there is an undeniable feeling that Craig Armstrong is holding back.
© Tim DiGravina /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:08:41
- Main artists: Craig Armstrong
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Virgin Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2002 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
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