Search - Myleene Klass :: Moving on

Splendid collection of Klassical music from Myleene Klass

Daniel J. Hamlow | Narita, Japan | 02/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Formerly of the now-dissolved British bigender pop group Hear'Say, Myleene Klass turned from post-Spice type pop to classical, a big shift considering the genres involved. Her instrument's the piano and she does have a symphony orchestra backing her up. Her selections straddle classical, pop, and even soundtrack scores, with arrangements done by herself and Nick Patrick, and bolstered by the Telephilmonic Orchestra."Toccata" is Johann Sebastian Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor. Accompanying the symphony and Myleene is a light drum machine not as boisterous as Massive Attack.Myleene next gets the ivories around the sad but romantic "For The Love Of A Princess," the love theme from Braveheart, one of three soundtrack themes she does. The orchestra's backing helps the atmosphere of this song, as does the light drum machines towards the end. "The Heart Asks Pleasure First" from The Piano, and Michael Nyman's score, is truly a showcase for Klass for the first minute before the orchestra kicks in. And I never saw Gladiator, but she does a Myleene Mix of "Now We Are Free", meaning some light drums and a Benedectine-type choir."Allegretto" is from Karl Jenkins' Palladio and this is more conventional than the way left-field version done by Bond on their second album Shine. Done with lots of feeling and uptempo without the oontsa-oontsa techno beats.Myleene does an instrumental arrangement of Daniel Bedingfield's hit single "If You're Not The One." Her piano playing matches Bedingfield's falsetto in the chorus section. I like this better than the original due to the lush string arrangements. I like her rendition of Linkin Park's "Crawling," titled here "Krlwng," but then again, I haven't heard the original and never intend to. I'll bet it's way better. Light drum machines present in this one."Pavane-Moving On" is taken from Gabriel Faure's Pavane, Opus 50, a melancholy and reflective piece, that is until the orchestra takes over in the second minute."Adagio" is taken from Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E Minor, Opus 85 and "Sarabande" from Georg F. Handel's Suite No. 11 in D Minor. The strings oft-times sound like what Bond did with Zeppelin's "Kashmir", a fierce jerking back and forth of strings.
There are two versions of Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata," one which the light drum programming, the other, a bonus track, without. Both showcase Klass's piano work."Gymnopedie-Live The Dream" is taken from Eric Satie's Gymnopedie No. 1, which Charlotte Church used for "From My First Moment" on Enchantment. However, Klass whispers some words as she plays in the beginning: "Did you ever stop to think what gives you strength to live another day? The breath in your body, the kisses you feel. It's all so simple, but never real. Maybe the strength you strive to show is so deep within. But it's true, I know. Welcome love, however far it seems. Go live the dream."I've devised a Cartesian system for the wave of neo-classical music prevalent right now with two dimensions, vocal/non-vocal and progressive (mixed)/conventional. Despite the brief spoken words in "Live The Dream", Klass is more on the non-vocal/conventional quadrant but due to her covering soundtrack scores and popular tunes and the use of drum machines, she's not as far to the right of the quadrant as Eroica Trio, whereas neo-classics like Brightman, Church, and Hayley Westenra would be in the progressive/vocal quadrant, diametrically opposite Eroica Trio. However, Klass has the looks of a Maxim or FHM model, so if we use that in the measure of progressive vs. conventional, that might move Klass more left of the axis.A worthy debut from Myleene Klass, helping to define the face of neo-classical today, and that's not just Hear'say (or do I mean hearsay?), that's plain truth."

Best Contemporary Classical Ever

jt | IL | 01/17/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is surprisingly beautiful (I discovered this CD thru a friend's recommendation-thanx MO, it's worth the shipping,lol). I liked the movie themes a lot especially the gladiator theme (the chants and the fusion of instruments made this soundtrack exceptional). Her version of Toccata is even better than Vanessa Mae(i hope i'm right).I think the best track in this album is either Gymnopedie or Pavane(It's the best version i ever heard to be honest).Great for chill-out moods, great when your stuck in the traffic, great when you're preparing a meal or having a meal. There's also a surprise cover of linki'n park's "Crawling" which i find very powerful and moving. Obviously, the tracks are composed of popular old tunes but given new interpretations. It seems that these are the pianist's favorites and as such, it is subject to be one's own"

I've had Goosebumps for weeks now

Adam Pelzer | Detroit, MI, USA | 06/05/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first heard this amazing collection of both classical music and a little but of hip-hop, I was mesmorized. I listen to this day in and day out. Beautiful songs, consisting of Toccata and Fugue, For the Love of a Princess (From Braveheart), Allegretto, If You're Not the One, The Heart Asks Pleasure First, Moonlight Sonara, Krwling (From Linkin Park), Pavane- Moving On, Adagio (Edgar Cello Concerto), Sarabande, Now We are Free (From Gladiator), Gymnope`die- Live the Dream and a BONUS TRAK, the classical version of Moonlight Sonata. Each and every one of these songs has a little twist on it, by Myleene Klass. As a classical music lover, and a hip-hop fan, this is the perfect CD for everyone wanting to listen to something new. I myself am a classical music player, I have played the piano for 14 years and have never heard anything like this. So take it from me, this will be loved by children and adults alike."