Search - Babble :: Ether

A trance-inducing ambient trip!

Jon Rydin | Chicago, IL United States | 07/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A fantastically mesmerizing follow-up to their previous effort, "The Stone". Former Thompson Twins members Tom Bailey & Alannah Currie have musically matured in a way that can not even be described. From the moody and developed singing of Tom on tracks like "Come Down" and "Tower", to the lush & ethereal lead vocals of Alannah on "Just Like You" and "Hold the Sky", and the lead guest appearance of Teremoana Rapley on "Love Has No Name" (the first single), this CD has something to make even the finickiest of listeners pleased.It's a shame that "The Stone" (which is also excellent) is out-of print. I'd highly recommend purchasing this CD before it meets the same fate.When you do... turn off the lights, get some some candles and incense going, put on your headphones, and take one of the best trance-inducing cosmic trips you have ever experienced!"

Surprisingly Original

Jon Rydin | 05/16/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"When I heard Babble's dubut album I was very impressed. It seemed before I heard that album that I hadn't heard anything original in a long time. This second album is more of what was great about the initial release. It's kind of like a cross between new age, pop, and eighties new wave. Of course not everyone may agree with that. I always thought that Babble's earlier band-The Thompson Twins created some great music themselves. Everyone song on Ether is great. "The Stone" is also good if you can find it. It's nice to be able to listen to something different. Recommended."

Dreamy, Ambient, Brilliant

littleghost | Los Angeles, California United States | 02/07/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What a stunning album. "Ether" is Babble's second album, and even though it's been a good 5 years since its release, I am still hoping it will not be their last. The music is very ambient and somewhere between new age and new wave... not surprising since Babble is made up of Tom Bailey and Alannah Currie from new wave supergroup the Thompson Twins.Longtime Thompson Twins fans are probably very familiar with Alannah Currie's harmony vocals recurring throughout their songs. In Babble, and especially here on their second album "Ether," Alannah steps up to take the lead vocals on several beautiful ballads. "Just Like You" and "Hold The Sky" are the jewels in this collection. Her voice is delicate and moody, and she brings out the soft side of these synthesized songs very effectively. Likewise, the production is lush and lilting. These songs are dreamy.Tom Bailey sounds great too, especially on "The Sun." His voice was always distinctive, with a soulful ache that has grown more mature and pronounced here. "Come Down" could almost be a radio single, except that it appears to have 2 songs happening at once: an Eastern intro that reappears after each chorus, and a very catchy, sweeping pop/rock arrangement reminiscent of latter-day Thompson Twins recordings, as well as Babble's "Take Me Away" from their first album "The Stone.""Ether" is that perfect CD for ethereal, nighttime listening."