Search - aeone :: The Woman's Touch

Familiar but oh-so different!

J. Williams | Provo, UTAH (USA) | 03/10/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I came across Aeone (pronounced Ay-Own) while doing a musical search-and-listen (a favorite hobby) here at amazon.com. A bona fide Loreena-lover, why hadn't I heard of this artist before? Apparently she's been rather busy writing scores for movies (obvious evidence of her protean talent) and has only intermittently taken precious time out to create musical magic on her own behalf.I went to her website ... and gave an ear to downloaded samples from The Woman's Touch. I was bowled over. Wow! From the eponymous first song, evoking a less quirky Kate Bush but with fuller production, to the anthemic Voice of America replete with hints of hip-hop, this CD is the poster child for eclecticism. Though a journey up and down diffuse acoustic pathways it has a soulful cohesion via Aeone's vocal stylings and subtle thematic elements. Enya-esque in her use of melodic multi-layering and Loreena-like with celtic-sensible, soaring invocations, Aeone sings from a spiritual place but on her very own merits. Her voice doesn't stand alone like Loreena's, pushing and kneading, but instead sits so very comfortably, sensually, amid the shimmering lushness of dulcimers and uilleann pipes and instruments more contemporary. Even a hard rock riff here and there complements instead of detracts.I guess that's the essence of The Woman's Touch, at once ancient and modern. Aeone's music spans eras yet its spirit is a most intimate one for the receptive listener. That's the gist of it for me, that I could hear it filling a cathedral or listen in bed with headphones in the dark and be equally moved. The connection made is ultimately personal -- which is surely the true objective of any sincere musician. Highly recommended to musicophiles with good taste.Oh, and thanks be to amazon.com for the oh-so useful cross-referencing feature of its music reviews format by which I found Aeone."

Not bad

Koldaree | WI, United States | 06/30/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I came across Aeone because I'm a huge Loreena McKennitt fan and Aeone was listed as a similar artist. For the most part I don't think there is much of a comparison between Aeone and Loreena, their vocals and music styling are quite different, with Loreena coming across as the much better singer. That's not to say that Aeone isn't a good artist, she's just different then what I expected. In my humble opinion, if I were to describe her music to someone, I would say that it's a mix of Loreena inspired vocals along with Enigma type music (heavy basslines and almost sensual beats). In theory if you liked Enigma and Loreena it would be great, but the end result still feels lacking something to me.My favorite track is 3, Body In Mind because it has a heavy almost lusty sound and the lyrics are great. My least favorite (heck I can't stand it) is track 12, Voice of America, mostly because of the guy almost rapping in it. That is why the CD falls flat in some spots, you feel a little uncomfortable because it seems like the artist is simply doing something because it is different, not because it makes sense.So, if given a choice between this and another CD, I would try the other one first. But if you have money to blow and like trying out different things, then this CD is for you."

I felt like an outsider...

Scott Hill | Redondo Beach, Ca USA | 03/09/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Let me say that I really loved her first album - great vocals, fantastic rhythms, very seductive. So I expected much the same from this one - a more polished intricate album, even better rhythmic interplay, I can't fault the vocals, she has a fine instrument, but after a while I noticed a continuing theme in the songs core subject material; things began to be less balanced, more feminine uber-allus, seemingly to the exclusion of all else. I felt strangely shut out - an odd sensation to have from a CD."