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Adopting a Middle Eastern flavor to enhance her blend of classical and new age pop, Sarah Brightman's Harem continues her experimentation with thematic discs that began with 1993's oceanic Dive. These themes, while never dominant or original, are simply meant to enhance her brand of crossover just enough to keep listeners interested in hearing her next project. Harem accomplishes that feat by shrouding new age pop songs in a thin Middle Eastern veil that disguises, but never completely covers, Brightman's true musical identity. It works well when she fully utilizes the theme, as on the opening title track where Brightman's fragile operatic voice is able to capture the traditional phrasing without sounding forced. But when the formula simply dresses up a pop/dance song like "The Journey Home," the results are less interesting and cross into territory already explored by the group Enigma and its worldly hits. Elsewhere, Brightman appears to have been taking classes at the Kate Bush vocal institute, sounding eerily similar to the English thrush on the quiet tracks "What You Never Know" and "Free," her writing collaboration with Sophie B. Hawkins. Retaining her classical leanings, Brightman successfully incorporates "Un Bel Di," from Puccini's Madame Butterfly, into the surging beats of "It's a Beautiful Day," her best attempt at creating a chart-worthy hit. Middle Eastern music stars like Kazem al-Saher and the late Ofra Haza lend an air of authenticity, while the tasteful arrangements by former Killing Joke frontman Jaz Coleman refrain from overpowering Brightman's voice or sinking into an Arabian parody. The disc gets a bit long by the time it reaches the unnecessary standard "Stranger in Paradise," but Brightman's Harem adventure is interesting enough to have listeners packed and ready to travel with her on another musical journey.
© Aaron Latham /TiVo
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R. SEEMAN, ComposerLyricist - Ferrer Trinidade, ComposerLyricist - Jaz Coleman, Orchestra Leader, AssociatedPerformer - Frederico De Brito, ComposerLyricist - Frank Peterson, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Peter Weihe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - GEORGE DAVID WEISS, Composer - Trevor Barry, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jaz Coleman, Unknown, Other - Frank Peterson, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist - George Douglas, Composer - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bob Thiele, ComposerLyricist - Prague Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Violet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Martin Beedle, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Christopher von Deylen, Arranger, Work Arranger - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Jaz Coleman, Orchestra - Frank Peterson, Author, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, Author, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Chiara Ferrau, Narrator
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Stephan Moccio, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Peter Weihe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Barry, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - MICK GUZAUSKI, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Jaz Coleman, Unknown, Other - Rony Barrak, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Peterson, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Prague Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Martin Beedle, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Matthia Meissner, Additional Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jaz Coleman, Unknown, Other - Don Black, Composer - Frank Peterson, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ibrahim Fathie, Unknown, Other - Prague Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Shweta Shetty, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - A. R. Rahman, Composer - Sarah Leatherbarrow, Choir - Anna Samant, Choir - Dean Hussain, Choir - Jonathan Penton, Choir - Andrew Palyfoot, Choir - Nina Bromham, Choir - Kuljid Bhamra, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Sophie B. Hawkins, Composer - Thomas Schwarz, Composer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nigel Kennedy, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Peterson, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, Composer, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Prague Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Violet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - The Gregorian Choir, Choir - Matthia Meissner, Composer, Keyboards, Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2001 Nemo Studios
Lukas Hilbert, Composer, Electric Sitar, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Peter Weihe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jaz Coleman, Unknown, Other - Rony Barrak, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Peterson, Composer, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Ofra Haza, Composer - Prague Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Violet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Peter Weihe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Kristian Draude, Composer - Patrick Benzer, Composer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Trevor Barry, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Jaz Coleman, Unknown, Other - Nigel Kennedy, Violin, AssociatedPerformer - Rony Barrak, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Peterson, Composer, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, Composer, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, Piano, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Prague Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Violet, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - The Bach Choir, Choir - Kareem Al Iraqi, Composer - Martin Beedle, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Christian Draude, Programming, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Gregorio Allegri, Composer - Frank Peterson, Producer, Mixer, Arranger, Work Arranger, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Bach Choir, Choir
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Nicola Hitchcock, ComposerLyricist - Frank Peterson, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Amir Abdel Magid, Strings, AssociatedPerformer - Prague Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - The Bach Choir, Choir - Gunther Laudahn, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Shara Freeman, ComposerLyricist - Aoub Abdel All, Strings, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Kristian Draude, ComposerLyricist - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Brian Johnson, ComposerLyricist - Frank Peterson, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Carsten Heusmann, ComposerLyricist - Peter Murray, ComposerLyricist - Shweta Shetty, ComposerLyricist - Amelia Brightman, ComposerLyricist - Rachel Shaw, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Chet Forrest, ComposerLyricist - Paul Bateman, Unknown, Other - Mike Reed, Conductor - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - London Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Robert Wright, ComposerLyricist - Frank Peterson, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, MainArtist - Alexander Borodin, ComposerLyricist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The Bach Choir, Choir - Adapt., ComposerLyricist
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Lukas Hilbert, Composer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rony Barrak, Percussion, AssociatedPerformer - Frank Peterson, Composer, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sarah Brightman, Composer, MainArtist - Michael Soltau, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Reda Bdir, Ney Flute, AssociatedPerformer - Amir Abdel Magid, Unknown, Other - Ibrahim Fathie, Unknown, Other - Prague Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra - Gunther Laudahn, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Peter Weihe, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Bob Ludwig, Mastering Engineer, StudioPersonnel - TOM LORD-ALGE, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Frank Peterson, Composer - Sarah Brightman, Composer, MainArtist - Chris Thompson, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
(C) 2003 Nemo Studios under exclusive license to Angel Records ℗ 2003 Nemo Studios
Album review
Adopting a Middle Eastern flavor to enhance her blend of classical and new age pop, Sarah Brightman's Harem continues her experimentation with thematic discs that began with 1993's oceanic Dive. These themes, while never dominant or original, are simply meant to enhance her brand of crossover just enough to keep listeners interested in hearing her next project. Harem accomplishes that feat by shrouding new age pop songs in a thin Middle Eastern veil that disguises, but never completely covers, Brightman's true musical identity. It works well when she fully utilizes the theme, as on the opening title track where Brightman's fragile operatic voice is able to capture the traditional phrasing without sounding forced. But when the formula simply dresses up a pop/dance song like "The Journey Home," the results are less interesting and cross into territory already explored by the group Enigma and its worldly hits. Elsewhere, Brightman appears to have been taking classes at the Kate Bush vocal institute, sounding eerily similar to the English thrush on the quiet tracks "What You Never Know" and "Free," her writing collaboration with Sophie B. Hawkins. Retaining her classical leanings, Brightman successfully incorporates "Un Bel Di," from Puccini's Madame Butterfly, into the surging beats of "It's a Beautiful Day," her best attempt at creating a chart-worthy hit. Middle Eastern music stars like Kazem al-Saher and the late Ofra Haza lend an air of authenticity, while the tasteful arrangements by former Killing Joke frontman Jaz Coleman refrain from overpowering Brightman's voice or sinking into an Arabian parody. The disc gets a bit long by the time it reaches the unnecessary standard "Stranger in Paradise," but Brightman's Harem adventure is interesting enough to have listeners packed and ready to travel with her on another musical journey.
© Aaron Latham /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 01:05:56
- Main artists: Sarah Brightman
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Angel Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2003 Angel Records ℗ 2003 Angel Records
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