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As If to Nothing | 
| Artist: Craig Armstrong
Label: Melankolic
Category: Music
List Price: £10.99
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New (22) Used (7) Collectible (1) from £3.00
Seller: all your music
Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 25547
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 11907
UPC: 766481738329
EAN: 0724381190722
ASIN: B00005V90X
Release Date: April 15, 2002
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Ruthless Gravity | | • | Wake Up In New York | | • | Miracle | | • | Amber | | • | Finding Beauty | | • | Waltz | | • | Inhaler | | • | Hymn 2 | | • | Snow | | • | Starless II | | • | Stay (Faraway, So Close!) | | • | Niente | | • | Sea Song | | • | Let It Be Love | | • | Choral Ending |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
IAs If To Nothing/I follows Armstrong's soundtrack work for Baz Luhrmann's Romeo Juliet and the recent musical extravaganza Moulin Rouge which explains why the second "artist" album from the multi-award winning Scottish composer is perhaps predictably heavy on evocative cinematic atmospherics. Steering closer to his debut ISpace Between Us/i than his melodic pop songwriting tendencies (which have in the past resulted in tracks such as Texas' "I Don't Want A Lover"), Armstrong creates a sensuous aural massage built upon the harmonic and string-based musical foundations laid by the arrangement of the dramatic opening track "Ruthless Gravity". Despite the unifying musical thread giving the album a somewhat symphonic feel, the continual shift in mood keeps it intriguing throughout. The epic orchestral compositions also benefit from a diverse selection of vocal contributors. Former Lemonhead, Evan Dando is first up, lending a melancholy voice to the acoustic desolation of "Wake Up In New York" while Mogwai's charmingly evocative Indian-influenced tones immediately transcend the gloom. U2 frontman turned political crusader, Bono, pipes up on the mediocre "Stay (Faraway, So Close)" while it's left to David McAlmont to provide the album's most pompous theatrical moment "Snow". But, despite the odd sniff of pretension, IAs If To Nothing/I remains a comfortable if somewhat safe blanket of orchestral ambience. --IChristopher Barrett/I
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
 What will this musical genious compose next ! April 30, 2002
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
Probably best known for his collaborations with Massive Attack Craig Armstrong is one of the most creative composers at present. His music cannot be placed into one specific genre, as the scope of sounds created in his music is endless, most considerably the use of thought provoking orchestral melodies, with however the use of drum beats typical to dance which makes his music accessable to everyone. If you're looking for something innovative, atmospheric, and have a keen ear for the classical then this albulm and his previous can't be recommended more. Those who know his contributions to Massive Attack will not be disappointed.
Another beautiful album from a master composer April 13, 2002
Collin Kelley
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Bless you, Craig Armstrong. You really are a genius. I had the pleasure today to hear most of As If to Nothing and many of the pieces moved me to tears they are so beautiful. This is music for the soul. In a short film about this album, Armstrong said the title is about how music is not really tangible, just audio waves that we cannot really hold on to. That may be the case, but this music is already stuck in my head and that is tangible enough for me. I had some fears about this album after seeing the track listing and guest artists. On his last solo piece, The Space Between Us, Armstrong had Liz Frasier and Paul Buchannan doing vocal duties. It doesn't get much better than that. When I heard Evan Dando was on As If to Nothing singing on the first single Wake Up In New York, I was disappointed. I was never a fan of the Lemonheads. However, Evan Dando has risen to new heights in my eyes. This a beautiful song and he sounds fantastic backed by all the atmosphere Armstrong has created. It evokes NYC and all that has happened there and should be a massive hit. Ruthless Gravity is an instrumental that ranks as one of Armstrong's best. It sets the tone for the entire album. Bono gives and inspired reading of the U2 classic Stay (Faraway, So Close). I didn't like it in the beginning, but it builds to such a beautiful and haunting finale that I was completely won over. This is my fave U2 song (and its from a Wim Wenders film--even better), so it's nice to see it getting a new lease on life. Let It Be Love which closes out the cd (followed by a choral ending) brings the album full cycle and has some of the best lyrics. I have been a fan of Armstrong for years, aftering hearing his work with the great Massive Attack, and of course his award winning soundtrack work. My only hope is that he brings his tour to America. This is probably going to be the best album of the year.
Fills a hole in the soul of my music collection. April 23, 2002
mattwoodget@hotmail.com (England)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Thank you Craig!pIf I ever met you I'd shake you by the hand and simply say thank you for providing us with such a beautiful work of art. It truly is the sound track to a movie that never was. Yet unlike the sound tracks to so many films this music works entirely on its own merit and will be remembered as such. This will prevent it ageing and lodge it firmly in the top slew of my favourite albums of all time.pThe only criticism, here online, seems to be its melancholy aspect, yet quite frankly such moments only add to its overall effect and allow the ethereal uplifts to resound with that much more impact.pWhen listening to this album I have found that it provides wonderful internal visuals. It quite literally creatively unlocks your mind with its epic sound.pOf particular worthy note, and two of the tracks I most recently listened to are Wake Up In New York and Stay. Heart wrenching lyrics and perfectly placed vocals that drag you in more so than any other music I've listened to of late.pCraig, I write SF and would one day love to have my books turned to screen plays and subsequently movies. Quite simply, I'd have to ask you to provide the sound track.pKeep up the good work!p-Matthew Woodget
If beauty was an album then Craig would have made it! April 23, 2002
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
Picture thisbrJuly 98. Cephalonia, Greece. Lying on a sunbed.pHmmm... another free Ministry CD, some useless tracks.... drifting over my head.... pWOAH! Look at the sleeve to find out who composed this breathtakingly beautiful piece of music.pHoliday enhanced by the perfect track to dream away to!pThe track was Weather Storm from Craig's first album and since then I have been awaiting further releases, be it scores like Bone Collector, but to hear his new album was coming out was just amazing.pAnd his new album is certainly amazing and beautiful. In summary, it contains a lot more vocal tracks than The Space Between Us and almost all the tracks contain electronic beats in some form or other (TSBU has some purely orchestral and piano pieces). This isn't to say any of them are beat heavy pieces, except perhaps Inhaler which is almost rocky. The prescence of more vocal tracks (half are vocal led) was initially a bit of a worry to me but all except Snow work wondefully. Bono in particular makes the stark and wanting Stay a masterpiece of simplicity and emotion. pStandout tracks for me are:brStaybrAmberbrWake Up In New York brStarless IIpIn short, go buy it now. The album cover is also atmospheric and enchanting which fits perfectly with undoubtedly one of the best albums of the last few years.pWarning though, Craig Armstrong will probabaly change your views on music and this album will become an adiction for a long while....
beautiful music and a soundtrack to life April 18, 2002
MJ (glasgow)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
After being a fan of Craig Armstrongs work for some time now, I have been waiting for the release of his new album 'As if to nothing' for a few months, and was looking out for the postman for the last few days eagerly awaiting for the disc to arrive...it was well worth the wait. It really picks up from where 'Space Between us' left off, in that, it continues its mix of moody instrumental masterpieces and powerful vocal performances. The styles mix seemlessly between Middle eastern inspired 'Amber' and 'Finding Beauty' to a Depesche mode-esc 'Inhaler'. Even Dando's vocal on 'Wake up in New York' is superb. This album should find itself on any real music fans CD tray for a long time, as it is an awe inspiring composition, with bench mark setting production qualities....buy it!!!
Showing reviews 1-5 of 14
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