Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 69
 More than just a pretty facebook June 3, 2008
Mart Music (Essex, UK)
20 out of 21 found this review helpful
br /What would initially appear to be an overnight rise to fame, assuming a best-selling debut album qualifies for that title, is more an inevitable result of the hard work, enthusiasm and an abundance of talent from these four male singers.
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br /Each have a background of academic musical studies and live performances, as soloists and with choirs, which led to degrees of success as individuals even before meeting up on the Facebook website - although they do admit to knowing, or knowing of, each other before that.
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br /Their career took a swift upturn after they made an impromptu performance at a house party and realised that they had a natural chemistry which created a unique sound in terms of vocal harmony. Soon after, the four approached manager Daniel Glatman (Blue and Fron Male Voice Choir) who promptly recognised their talent and found them a record deal with the Universal label.
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br /The result is this debut album, named `Blake' after the English poet William Blake "because he was a man who embraced so many different styles of art and language" says band member Dominic Tighe.
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br /For me, the most surprising aspect of the album is its constant emphasis on the harmony vocals which tend to drive the orchestral accompaniment to the rear of the sound mix. This is in contrast to many of the recent pop/classical artists who often allow the orchestral aspects of the song to be bought to the fore. This vocal emphasis produces a distinctive sound which lends a more personal feel to many of the songs.
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br /Of the songs, they are all chosen by the band themselves and range from the romantically sung (in Italian) `Yo Te Voy a Amar' (I'll Make Love to You) to the dramatic Gladiator film score adaptation `In Paradisum'.
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br /This is a band which has the looks to please a young fan base and the talent to satisfy the demands of a classically critical audience.
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I'm a new fan December 10, 2007
Harry H.
20 out of 24 found this review helpful
Classical cross over is for me, I love Il Divo and G 4, there are great tunes out there but it takes good voices to make the best of them. I find some of the originial tracks quite boring, but good voices can create a totally new experience. Blake have got it right. Pity that G4 decided to pack it in this year, these guys had some good ideas. Il Divo is a bit operatic for my liking but I do like a lot of the tracks. Blake got it about right on balance, I reommend it to all lovers odf classical crossover.
What a beautiful album, I'm so proud they're all British!!!!!! December 10, 2007
jujuju (London Central)
12 out of 14 found this review helpful
Wow Wow Wow Wow - heard BLAKE on Classic FM this weekend, and ordered the album on Amazon straight away - these guys are REAL singers, with talent!!
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br /No silly gimicks, no daft songs from second rate movies - every song on this album is pure aural gold, from In Paradisum to Vide Cor Meum, if you like movie soundtrack, you will quite simply adore this album, its like a trip through 15 different worlds of music and feeling. The sound quality of the orchestra backing, and the way the 4 lush voices sit in the middle, is nothing short of spell binding. I can't recal who produced this album, but it is quite simply one of the finest pieces of work for 2007 in classical.
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br /If you want a naff album full of second rate tunes, go elsewhere - I've found my new favourite band for 2008, and they don't sing anything except pure gold. This is the way the music industry should go, good quality music, produced with real style and flair. I really do take my hat off to this lot, they deserve to be on every christmas list going.
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br /Not bad coming from a jewish wife eh?
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br /Juliet.
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br /P.S. Thank goodness for REAL British talent!!!!
Voices like melting chocolate! June 21, 2008
Chic Biker (Norfolk, UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
What a stunning album! I requested it for Christmas after seeing Blake at the Festival of Remembrance, and what a delight the album was... my only criticisms are first - a few naff tracks (God only knows - Beachboys did it better) and too many female sopranos in some (Swing low). If I buy a CD for men singing harmony, I don't want screeching women!
br /I do hope that a second album (and a website??) will soon be available.
Like the England team tonight.... ! October 13, 2007
Ms. G. L. Kaye
24 out of 36 found this review helpful
AMAZING ...Blake's sound, look, harmonies and chemistry will prove to be a real winner too ! Can't wait til this album finally hits the shops.. Looking forward to seeing and hearing much, much more of Blake very soon. GREAT to see a group of classically trained, talented young men following a dream and making it happen. CONGRATS GUYS.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 69
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