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Review Feb 1, 2001 - Martyn Woolley Album tracks:12 Playing time: 50 mins The new album by Andru Donalds hit my mailbox today, and I quickly inserted it into the CD draw of my PC and hit play. As the notes of the tracks came out of the powerful PC speakers I sat back and wrote this review as I listened for the first time. 1. "Lets Talk About It" 4:15 - reggae filled beat and bass opener.... with a quick intro into a nice Cretu orchestral synth, Andru sings in a lower key for the first minute.....and the Cretu backing is still very low key except for the drum and bass....and distorted Vocoder voice appears singing "Lets Talk' half way through the track....Andru's breaks at this point and then slowly builds the song up to the crescendo with a lot more feeling, repeating the title...and then the electro vocoder voice appears again with the title loop...nice production, not overdone with nice effects and terrific drum and bass. Could have easierly been a single and one of the best tracks on the album. 2. "What Kind of Girl" 3:05 - Another drum beat intro, but not as pronounced as the first song, Andru starts with a very aggressive tone of voice..."What Kinda of Girl" is the hook line used throughout the song. Not Reggae but more raw Andru. They also use the "echo repeat" chorus in the background which was used to great effect on earlier Sandra songs. More of a live and rawer feel to this song and this song could have come from one off the earlier 1994 "Andru Donalds" album. Raw and catchy track which gives you another perspective of Andru's writing and singing talents. 3. "I'm not your One Night Lover" 3:35 - The delayed single release from late last year, great summer beats and a catchy song full of reggae and summer island roots. Bouncy and strong Summery appeal of the islands. Nothing more to be said about this song except... Virgin please try again to release this as a summer single release. >>>CLICK TO LISTEN<<< 4. "Hurts to Be In Love" 3:35 - after hearing the original 80's ballad by Gino Vanelli it struck me straight away why Cretu picked this song, it is constructed very much like a early Cretu creation. I wondered how he could make it sound any different, well he did and it could become a sleeper hit, as Andru does envelope himself in this pretty track. Andru singing a repeating chorus line' starts the song in a mellow fashion with a light 80's sounding keyboard...then incomes his awesome mellow sounding voice...with whispering synths in the background...no mistaking Cretu's brilliance on keyboards during the song.....then at half way through in comes Jens with his strong electric guitar...not overdone but strong.... this then fades out and in comes the more mellow electric guitar to finish off the song.... Really catchy hook synth between the vocals with leave you humming this song during the day. This really gives you all of Andrus vocal emotion and talents with a well balanced production. >>>CLICK TO LISTEN<<< 5. "My Place Is Here" 4:40 - Slow starter...with an Enigma "aurora" to the start....muted drums with the Cretu synth loop of submarine sounding droplets...in comes the hi-hat effects to accompany the beats....Louder and another original beat leads Andru into a very mellow start and he is soon is using his full range of voice...the song breaks into a very nice mellow chill out feel full of the Cretu nuggets of resemblance from previous albums....nice background fills in the middle part of the song...really dreamy and super production that's ends up with what sounds like the background vocal track playing backwards as he has used so many times before...it's hard to pick out but it is used so sparingly and so superbly mixed within the song you almost think it could be faint latin chants, or even a softly singing Sandra....it's mystic is amazing...this song could have easierly been a slow Enigma track, full of orchestral emotion with many rain drops of Cretu sound and atmosphere...so brilliantly sung with every emotion by Andru, but the beautiful arrangement that Cretu and Gad created will be etched in your memory. I played this track over and over as it caught my attention as a Cretu disciple. I am not usually into a track like this expect this offers so much of why I admire Cretu's work. You'll end up listening to this track over and over as I did. >>>CLICK TO LISTEN<<< 6. "Words, Unspoken" 3:45 - Stifled flute synth opens this bouncy beat track...another original Cretu created beat I may add....not full reggae but just up beat...light synth comes in with popish feel....Andrus again breaks into voice early, pumping out his full range from low to high. The song just does not get anywhere although it has flashes of being brilliant...you'll also recognize some early Sandra production sounds in the background. Weakest track so far although it had potential....but coming off the previous track which was so full of emotion and beauty it is hard to appreciate this type of song. Not a weak song by any means but not upto the standard and feel of everything I have heard so far. 7. "Someday" 4:55 - Slow song with a nice acoustic guitar of Jens, Andrus fast paced singing does not justify the mellow feel. Again Cretu brings in the orchestral strings to give it his unique feel. Very mellow production which really suits the song. Andru does well to bring this song up to reach it's louder part and then Cretu brings the song back down to its mellow ending, and then it comes right back up with rush of energy at the end....Cretu then brings it all up to envelope the brilliant vocals of Donalds...he certainly puts a lot of lyrics into each of his songs, but again he crosses the boundaries of every emotion....dont let this song deceive you just when you think it will end it comes storming back....the song fades out gently.... 8. "The Way I Am" 4:10 - Powerful and harsh intro to this very moody song, a little more middle range with nice chorus and hook... you can recognize early Cretu influence in this songs structure...the songs does have a catchy chorus and Jens comes in strong midway with his raunchy guitar solo, full of rock feel..as thats ends great background chorus from Andru to end the song...it takes a long time to break out but when it does it is hot! 9. "Muddy Water" 4:00 - Acoustic solo guitar start, distorted Donalds voice embarks on this bouncy song...Muddy Water represents early Donalds songs, a mix of hard beats with aggressive vocals. Again a lot of Jens hard rock guitar and his style and feel is stamped all over this album. The track could quite easierly be overlooked on the album based on the slow intro, but give it a chance as it breaks out into classic. The song ends with more Gad electric guitar. 2nd track on the new single "Hurts to be In Love" 10. "Send Me A Sign" 3:50 - Scratchy beginning ....with strong beats and synth melody...nice piano follows the vocals up and down the scale, you get a good feel of Cretu talents on this raw piano accompanying track.....Andru breaks into the chorus and the songs breaks into a faster pace as Donalds voice breaks .....we again get more Cretu effects in the background with his striking piano hook. This song is the 3rd track on the new single "Hurts to be In Love". Again a very mellow song with more of a Andru feel than over production. 11. "Living for Tomorrow" 5:00 - OK enigmatics.....you can pick out snippets of Cretu new an old in the first 30 seconds of this song Andru starts with much echo and feel to this song...he really bangs out the lyrics to pull this song along....each and every break you can pick out the master with his subtle production of his signature talents. Nicely arranged song and it also features a sitar solo towards the end...a very mystical song full of creative production and singing. You'll end up playing this song many times as you wonder how Cretu got it all in....very strong live feel to the sitar at the end, it even has a Indian atmosphere as it fades out, at the start you would never think this song could reach such heights. Brilliantly arranged and sung with stinging lyrics warning us of the perils of our lives. Certainly the best track on the album for me. 12. "Virtual World" 4:00 - Last track on this very different Andru album up beat piano intro with swirling synth effects....nice live drum feel with heavy bass.....cant quite place the Cretu piano riff....you know you have heard it before in style...Andru breaks into this faster paced song...again the drums give you a live feel....this song has a strong hook that will encapture you...with "Sandra style" echo background vocals...but this song has a club/bar room feel to it..the piano solo keeps coming in an out and it is always nice to hear Cretu talents on the keys...bouncy and catchy feel to it...towards the end could it be...is it..Sandra singing background voclas...you be the judge...it does end abruptly after creating such a nice aurora. This song has the potential of being another single as the melody hooks your imagination. Conclusion - "Lets Talk About It" an album superbly written and produced, earns Andru Donalds a new and high artistic status irrespective of whether the album would or would not commercially succeed. Every song on the album is consistently substantial and very well arranged and produced, justifying Andru's strong vocal performance with meticulous orchestration that is always charming but never overwhelming. This new album offers a feast of Cretu's music at its most innovative and original through his partnership with Jens Gad. As a discerning fan of Cretu's compositions and unique sound-texture, I was so pleased to hear the fresh fullness that Cretu and Gad had woven around Andru's voice. I freely consider this album to be Andru Donald's best yet; and a considerable development in the work of Cretu, Gad and Donalds from "Snowing Under My Skin" of only 18 months earlier. The sound is fresh and skillfully crafted to enshroud the voice of Donalds and complement his talents of song-writing. The songs are so individually well composed and performed that it is pointless to seek gaps that, even if subjectively existed, would only be moments of freshness in a journey of intensity and musical sophistication. It is possible, even likely, for the uninitiated to miss some moments of true beauty that exsist on this recording. Layout in the sun with your headset on and you'll soon be floating into another world of relaxation and sublimity. For all Cretu followers and those who enjoyed his previous work with Donalds, this album testifies to the art and craftsmanship of both musicians. Donalds strong and stirring vocals now have a perfect stage with this graceful production and writing talents of Cretu and Gad. Throughout the album, one is swept by a torrent of melodies and strikingly crisp and original beats that, even at their most technically complicated moments, are never excessive. I believe that the album is a moment of musical creativity that could o nly result from strong and varied streams of energy at play in all directions at once and the work of art can only rise to new heights of sublimity. I strongly recommend this album for its own merit and with no association to any pre-conceived idea of Enigma or other works, after all, Cretu's music has been at its best at times of complete breakage and liberty from trends and pre-conceptions. I believe most of you would certainly enjoy it. ~Martyn Woolley~ 
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