Reviews of "Into Paradise"

[richnorri]

Hello everybody!

Here is a review from inthenews.co.uk.

All Angels: Into Paradise
UCJ/Universal, out November 26th.

The second album from bright young
things All Angels.

In a nutshell...

Slick, heavenly, relaxing, classical-pop crossover.

What's it all about?

Into Paradise is the second album from the teen classical sensation All Angels. Following on from their self-titled debut, this latest release keeps the same blend of traditional classical pieces and re-worked popular hits.

Opening with Sancte Deus (Nimrod), the album has a handful of traditional, classical pieces including Zadok the Priest and Sull' Aria but includes some brave renditions of Coldplay's The Scientist, Simon and Garfunkel's Sound of Silence and Sinead O'Connor's Nothing Compares 2 U.

Who's it by?

Not many teenagers can say that they've sung for the queen, performed the national anthem at Twickenham and appeared at the Royal Albert Hall. Since the group were formed in 2006 they have done all of this as well as picking up a Classical Brit award nomination along the way and completing their A-levels.

The four talented and beautiful girls consist of Melanie, Laura, Charlotte and Daisy – all hand-picked after a nationwide search. As well as their enviable classical singing talents (Laura was the BBC Radio 2 chorister of the year) the girls have also excelled in other areas of their lives; Charlotte has acted in a Harry Potter film, Melanie is multi-lingual and Daisy released a jazz album at the age of 15.

Personable and enthusiastic, the girls' enthusiasm and energy for their musical careers is clear to anyone who meets them. With a five-album deal expect a great deal more from them to come.

As an example...

"I'll be there, Like a bird, singing you through/I'll be there, I'll be there/Holding the light for you/Making it right for you/Singing you through." - Singing You Through

"Lift up your voice/Sing praises and rejoice/Send forth a joyful song to the Lord/Let all the Earth send forth a joyful song/Send forth a joyful song/Let all the Earth unto the Lord/A joyful, joyful song, to the Lord/A joyful, joyful song, unto the Lord." - Lift Up Your Voice

Likelihood of a trip to the Grammys

With one Classical Brit award nomination already it is highly likely the future will hold more accolades for the foursome.

What the others say...

"Into Paradise so desperately wants to be sophisticated and cutting edge, but in reality it is achingly safe. But if there's one thing that really frustrates about listening to this album, it's the feeling that we've been here before. If All Angels have any higher ambitions than this, then their material will have to grow up with them." - BBC

So is it any good?

The quality and beauty of the girls' voices is undeniable. Sancte Deus and Zadok the Priest provide the opportunity for them to flex their vocal chords in harmony and show they can hold their own in powerful classical hits, but individual voices shine throughout the album.

Putting a classical slant on The Scientist and Nothing Compares To You was a bold move, and one that would have seen them fall into slicky-sweet territory had the strength of their voices not rescued them. Occasional lines in the modern covers are so breathtakingly well-sung that you can just about forgive them for pouring a heavy dose of sugar onto the originals.

Singing You Through is wonderful; a gorgeous ballad that is one of the strongest tracks on the album. Classical aficionados will no doubt be satisfied with the traditional tracks and those looking for an easy-listening album this Christmastime may well need look no further.

With Into Paradise branching out very little from their first album, it will be interesting to see what routes the group take in the future and if they manage to impress with new material rather than safe covers.

But all-in-all, a beautiful album that cements their position as the most fresh and talented new act in the classical world.

8/10

Carolyn Robertson

Richard

[drew]

One week ago I posted 14 videos from the St. Bartholomew's concert on YouTube, of those 14, 8 related to "Into Paradise".

I do not know how people 'trip over' videos on YouTube but here are the hits to-date for the various videos:

Nothing Compares 2 U 778
The Sound of Silence 197
Pie Jesu 110
In Paradisum 99
Singing You Through 96
Swing Low Sweet Chariot 84
Sull Aria 63
Make Me A Channel 57

All 14 videos received a five star rating (that is for content, not videography).

They received the following comments:

Nothing Compares 2 U:

just heard this on this morning and gave me goose bumps...

WOW watched it this morning.... cantwait to buy the album theyre amazing!!

was the song playin on this mornin ... made me cry an i fort it was amazin

Pie Jesu:

Unbelievable!

In Paradisum:

My mother in law likes you lot so its a thumbs up from her!!

Let us hope that it converts into a good few extra sales of "Into Paradise".

[dazza]

Hi Richard,

Thanks for posting the interesting review.

I arrived home from work earlier to see that the postman had been and a parcel from Play.com sitting there waiting for me, of course it was 'Into Paradise'.

I am listening to it for the first time now, I'll post my own review either later or tomorrow.

Dazza

[Northern_Lights]

Yay! Thanks for the first review!

[dazza]

Hi Everyone,

I have listened to the album quite a few times now and I feel that I am ready to review it.

I think that 'Into Paradise' is a wonderful album, I don’t think that we could have asked for a better follow up to the debut album. A wonderful mix of classical and classical crossover songs with the heavenly and harmonising sounds of the girls’ voices.

As a huge Coldplay fan I am always sceptical of bands and artists that cover their songs but I was looking forward to hearing All Angels version of ‘The Scientist’, especially as it is one of my favourite songs, the girls certainly didn’t disappoint, it is a fantastic and beautiful version of the song.

One song that really struck me was ‘Lament (Band of Brothers)’ I never realised that it is the same song as ‘Requiem for a Soldier’ on Katherine Jenkins new album, they are both totally different versions of the song, each one fantastic in their own way, however I think that All Angels version is absolutely stunningly beautiful, even emotional.

It is difficult to pick a favorite song, but 'Nothing Compares 2 U', ‘Lament (Band of Brothers)’, 'Pie Jesu' and ‘Singing You Through’ are definitely worth a mention, however my favourite song remains ‘Sancte Deus (Nimrod)’ which I think is just wonderful.

Overall, a fantastic album and it has really set me up for seeing them on Wednesday now. I can’t wait.

Well Done Girls.

Dazza

[Northern_Lights]

Yay! Love the reviews!

[richnorri]

Hello everybody!

I've found the review from the BBC that was quoted in the opening post of this thread. See the last paragraph.

www.bbc.co.uk/music/release/9cmq/

All Angels
Into Paradise
[UCJ]

Performer: All Angels
Released: 26 November 2007
Catalogue number: 4766199

Review by Jack Jewers
21 November 2007

Teen sensations All Angels have officially been the Next Big Thing™ in classical music since they fluttered onto the scene in the summer of 2006. Their eponymous debut went platinum in a matter of weeks, and they were soon doing everything expected of photogenic prodigies since Charlotte Church swapped communion wine for the harder stuff. Nominated for a Classical Brit? Tick. Performed for the Queen? Tick. Wear matching white outfits and release a cover of Robbie Williams’ "Angels"? Tick, tick, tick.

Now they’re back with Into Paradise, another eclectic mix of pop-classical fusion, only this time with a more elegiac slant. Requiems, spirituals and even a couple of break-up songs sit alongside a more familiar array of classical pieces. But while All Angels are undeniably talented vocalists, the slickness of this album far exceeds any aspiration it has to be taken seriously.

The most striking track is a hauntingly stripped-down rendition of "In Paradisum" (Latin for 'into paradise' – see what they did there?) Mercifully under-produced, it is a perfect showcase for their subtlety as performers. Similarly adept, if predictable, are "Pie Jesu" and "Sancte Deus" (from Nimrod.)

But while they do a pretty good job of making Faure’s Requiem sound heavenly, a special level of hell should be reserved for whoever chose to throw in choral renderings of Coldplay’s "The Scientist" and Sinead O’Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U". All traces of feeling have been ironed out of these teen poetry whine-athons, and the addition of some overwrought orchestration does nothing to lift their terminal dreariness.

Not all of the pop choices fall flat, however. A harmonised version of Simon and Garfunkels’ "The Sound of Silence" manages to draw out the song's charming 60s idealism with a well-judged lightness of touch.

Into Paradise so desperately wants to be sophisticated and cutting edge, but in reality it is achingly safe. But if there's one thing that really frustrates about listening to this album, it’s the feeling that we’ve been here before. If All Angels have any higher ambitions than this, then their material will have to grow up with them.

Richard

[richnorri]

Hello everybody!

Postscript (Peter S) has posted his review of 'Into Paradise' HERE, so I'll quote it in this thread.

postscript said:

Well, hi folks. Long time since I have been here and it is sheer chance that I am. I had no idea how ‘with it’ I was when, in Waitrose this after-noon (£11.99), looking for something cheap to buy to save paying for the car park—it’s free for 2 hours if you buy something you need and I had used their car park for the post office!

There on the top shelf in position three, technically but I don’t think that was necessarily intended was ‘Into Paradise’.

I knew something was due to come out of course but it is only when I came on to this site and started to look at the last 30 posts did I realise how soon on proceedings I was.

Nimrod, wonderful harmony at the conclusion and almost sotto voce. I wondered if they were too quiet against the orchestra but the choral balancing is superb. This CD made me realise (and I must listen again) to the extraordinary balance with contrast these girls can render. They really are wonderfully suited as a quartet.

‘In Paradisum’ magnificent. I have been moved from my first hearing of ‘Make Me A Channel of Your Peace’ and their rendition must surely stand for a long time as one of the best renditions of this hymn.

‘Swing Low’ didn’t gel with me quite as excitingly. ‘The Scientist’ is completely new to me. I don’t think I would have liked it if anyone else had introduced me to it. They handle it very well. ‘Sound of Silence’ brought Simon and Garfunkell immediately to mind. They have managed to capture the essence of the original while remaining themselves. I think this a unique achievement and re-introduces for me a favoured song unheard for some time.

As for ‘Band of Brothers Lament’ incredibly emotional. Superb cavernous soaring of voices tugging without embarrassment at the heart strings.

I am not going to comment on every song but I loved the higher register of harmonies and counter-harmonies in ‘Sull’ Aria from The Marriage of Figaro then the simplicity by contrast of ’Singing You Through’. ‘Pie Jesu’ they really brought alive and ‘Zadoc the Priest’ a good rousing ending which one is used to hearing with a full choir providing a volume of sound they managed excellently with only a few additional singers.

Looking at The Radio Times critique I quote [‘…under-produced, it is a perfect showcase for their subtlety as performers’. This referred to ‘In Paradism’ in particular and one or two others but I think succinctly expresses my feelings for the whole CD.

In its timing it is a ‘Christmas’ production but unlike most Christmas CDs it is an album for all seasons and in that I think it is a marketing triumph: it is seasonal without ‘being’ seasonal.

The Radio Times went on ‘Into Paradise so desperately wants to be sophisticated and cutting edge, but in reality it is achingly safe. But if there's one thing that really frustrates about listening to this album, it’s the feeling that we’ve been here before. If All Angels have any higher ambitions than this, then their material will have to grow up with them.’

My answer to that is, too great a contrast on a second album would leave followers wondering who they are and where are they going. Where the RT says ‘achingly safe’ I say, strengthening the base-line, a CD well balanced as an harmonic whole from which they might safely step forth into something more adventurous later.

As for other matters, I think the CD booklet gains superb elegance from total simplicity. White on white is difficult and it would have been tempting to give the girls a coloured background to provide contrast. The photography and printing are excellent. It was a courageous decision to print white on white and it works well. The soft focus faces on separate pages giving each girl a chance to express their thanks opposite is a wonderfully subtle way of reminding us which girl is which, in place of the ‘usual’ line up. A superb classical presentation that enshrines the essential essence that these are totally different personalities, blended by music.

Peter S.

Welcome back Peter, and thanks for the review.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[stephany]

Hi everyone,

There's also a very brief review in 'The Northern Echo'.

NEWS & REVIEWS
By Viv Hardwick - 6 December 2007
The Northern Echo

All Angels: Into Paradise (UCJ)

Having made a welcome appearance on last Sunday's Songs Of Praise, the classical girl group's second release produces some fascinating choices. Alongside the beautiful Sancte Deus by Elgar sits Coldplay's The Scientist and Nothing Compares To You by Prince. There's also a lesser-known track, Singing You Through by Bermuda-born Heather Nova, which I much prefer to over-careful selections like Swing Low and Pie Jesu.

Stephany

[dazza]

Hi Stephany,

Many thanks for that.

Dazza

[stephany]

Hi again,

Here is another brief review of 'Into Paradise' from The Daily Express.

CD ROUND-UP
7 December 2007
The Daily Express
(c) 2007 Express Newspapers

ALL ANGELS: INTO PARADISE (UCJ)

Classical girl group All Angels return with a quiet and charming collection of classical favourites and reworked pop ditties.

Coldplay's The Scientist and Prince's Nothing Compares To U are highlights, although the traditional material will probably be more to listeners' tastes.

Stephany

[richnorri]

Thanks for posting the reviews, Stephany!

I agree with that last statement, with the exception of 'Singing You Through', which is easily my favourite of all the pop songs All Angels have recorded on both their albums. I liked it immediately when I first heard them sing it live at St. Bartholomew's Church back in September.

Best Wishes,

Richard

[dazza]

Hi Stephany,

Thanks once again for the review, I agree with Richard about 'Singing You Through' being the favorite of the pop songs.

Dazza

[meldy]

Yeah, I agree, and it's original so "Singing You Through" is really something special

Meldy

[lauraisbestangel]

Singing You Through is an amazing song and as was said before its just that bit more special because its original!

Shauna
xxx
;D;D;D