May 132013
Ultimate Secret Garden
Import only two-disc collection includes complete career overview, extensive selections drawn from the most important years with key hits, extensive liner notes, credits, and period photos. 30 tracks in all including ‘Songs For A Secret Garden’, ‘Nocturne’, ‘You Raise Me Up’ & Heartstrings’. Universal.
List Price: $ 25.98
Price: $ 12.58
Wonderful compendium of Secret Garden’s music, but not the best…,
This is a haunting and ethereal disk with many of the songs that have made Secret Garden so loved – by the people who love Secret Garden, that is. There is of course always those folk who don’t see the simple beauty of the music, like the previous reviewer who felt compelled to classify it in some way. Secret Garden defies classification.
That being said, I believe I would have to recommend the CD “Dreamcatcher” instead of this one if you’re seeking a compendium or “Greatest Hits” type recording. Both CDs have most of the same titles, with a couple extra on this one. The only advantage to “Ultimate Secret Garden” is the beautiful mezzo voice of the featured Asian Artist. I don’t have the CD case in front of me so don’t know her name, but her voice is amazing.
The versions of most of the songs are pretty similar, except that a number of the ones on disk 2 of this set are from live performances; the renditions are weaker, intonation is a bit off in places, and the applause is distracting. The pivotal, breathtaking “Dawn of a New Century” in particular is far stronger on the Dreamcatcher recording and is a piece not to be missed!
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|A good start and a good collection,
I love the music from the Secret Garden. This collection contains the best that the group has previously released in different albums. I bought it in Hong Kong and the package is a double CDs. The first CD is a collection of songs whereas the second CD is a live version of their performance in their tours. I would especially mention the first two songs in the collection which are newly prepared with a good taste and memory to combine the culture from the east (an Korean and a Chinese) and the west. Hope every one enjoy the music from the group and anticiapting to listen more their songs in the near future.
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|Ultimate Secret Garden – Is not trying to be anything else,
Secret Garden is one of those phenomenons that you either seem to love or hate – they definitely do not fit into any strictly defined category – and I’m sure do not plan to change to fit any-ones preconceived notions!
I love Classical music, and Rock, and many other genere’s …
and can just enjoy this music when I’m in the mood to listen to its soothing melodies and occaisional lyrics.
If you’re in the mood for something else – go listen to it – but don’t bash the beauty of something you aren’t able to comprehend. There are way too many music ‘Nazi’s’ who seem to believe that everything must fit in some tiny preconceived little box in order for their tiny little minds to enjoy it.
This is music which soars and floats and takes your mind completely away from the days troubles or the endless sea of cars plaguing your daily commute.
All the more power to this dynamic duo for their beautiful efforts.
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