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If the lush, sweeping strings and ambient beats of The Space Between Us seemed cinematic, As if to Nothing suggests an even bolder turn toward film score territory. It's an indication of how Armstrong's stock rose after Moulin Rouge was released and after his work with Massive Attack was featured in advertisements and soundtracks around the world that so many collaborators join the fray here. Bono, Evan Dando, Mogwai, Photek, and David McAlmont all attempt star turns, and less well-known performers from Big Dish, Alpha, and Laub get in on the festivities as well. But Armstrong's string arrangements are still the focal point, to the extent that most of the collaborators are relegated to a back seat. The album's high points mostly reside in the instrumentals, though Evan Dando's vocals break through the electronic wash in "Wake up in New York" and former Big Dish member Steven Lindsay's voice shines through on "Let It Be Love." Swati Natekar and Mogwai give a strong showing with "Miracle" and Alpha vocalist Wendy Stubbs' tenderly voiced "Sea Song" is sublime, though less studio polish would have aided both songs. The showy reworking of U2's "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" gives Bono the chance to emote like few contemporary U2 songs. The brilliant "Waltz" sees Laub's Antye Greie-Fuchs presenting a spoken-word manifesto over ambient gurgling. The instrumental "Inhaler" is a punishing change of pace, though it betrays a heavy Depeche Mode influence. Armstrong is certainly a talented studio technician, but there's a sense that he's relying too heavily on his patented string arrangements on As if to Nothing. While the album is another stylized dose of theatrical pop electronica, there is an undeniable feeling that Craig Armstrong is holding back.
© Tim DiGravina /TiVo
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Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - Richard Norris, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, Composer - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Jenny O'Grady, ProductionCoordinator - Craig Armstrong, Producer, MainArtist, VocalArranger, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard, RecordingArranger - Ricky Graham, RecordingSecondEngineer - Pete Lockett, Percussion - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Jenny O'Grady and The Metro Voices, Choir
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Conductor, Concertmaster - David Donaldson, RecordingEngineer - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Mark 'Spike' Stent, MixingEngineer - Evan Dando, Producer, Vocalist, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, Engineer - David Treahearn, Engineer, MixingSecondEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Guitar, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist, MusicDirector - Ricky Graham, RecordingSecondEngineer - Stephen Hilton, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard - John Parricelli, Musician - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Ali MacLeod, Musician - Mat Fields , Engineer - Steven Lindsay, BackgroundVocalist - Jan "Stan" Kybert, Engineer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - David Donaldson, MixingEngineer - John Cummings, Other - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Andy Bradfield, MixingEngineer - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, RecordingEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Ricky Graham, RecordingSecondEngineer - John Clark, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Mogwai, Vocalist, MainArtist - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Swati Natekar, Vocalist, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Hanif Khan, Tabla - Stuart Braithwaite, Other
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, Composer - Andy Bradfield, MixingEngineer - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, RecordingEngineer - Keith Uddin, RecordingSecondEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Stephen Hilton, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Hilton, Composer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Craig Armstrong, Vocalist, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd/Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - David Donaldson, RecordingEngineer - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Ricky Graham, RecordingSecondEngineer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Antye Greie-Fuchs, Vocalist, MainArtist - Greie-Fuchs, ComposerLyricist - David Paterson, RecordingEngineer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, Composer - Mark 'Spike' Stent, MixingEngineer - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, RecordingEngineer - David Treahearn, MixingSecondEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Ricky Graham, RecordingSecondEngineer - Stephen Hilton, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Ali MacLeod, Guitar - Mat Fields , MixingSecondEngineer - Jan "Stan" Kybert, Engineer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, RecordingEngineer - Jenny O'Grady, ProductionCoordinator - Craig Armstrong, Producer, MainArtist, VocalArranger, RecordingArranger - Ricky Graham, RecordingSecondEngineer - Stephen Hilton, Programmer - Catherine Bott, SopranoVocalist - Photek, MainArtist, MixingEngineer, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Jenny O'Grady and The Metro Voices, Choir
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - David Donaldson, RecordingEngineer, ProgrammingEngineer - Matt Dunkley, Engineer, Other - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, MixingEngineer - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, RecordingEngineer - Keith Uddin, RecordingSecondEngineer - David Treahearn, MixingSecondEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Stephen Hilton, Programmer - David McAlmont, Vocalist, MainArtist - McAlmont, ComposerLyricist - Geoff Allan, RecordingEngineer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Scott Frazer, BassGuitar - Mat Fields , MixingSecondEngineer - Pdub, AdditionalMixingEngineer - Jan "Stan" Kybert, Engineer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - Robert Fripp, Composer - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Andy Bradfield, MixingEngineer - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, RecordingEngineer - Bill Bruford, Composer - Keith Uddin, RecordingSecondEngineer - John Wetton, Composer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Stephen Hilton, Producer, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard - David Cross, Composer - Richard Palmer-James, Composer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Bono, Lyricist, FeaturedArtist - Adam Clayton, Composer - Craig Armstrong, MainArtist - Larry Mullen JR., Composer - The Edge, Composer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd/Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, Composer - Andy Bradfield, MixingEngineer - Jake Davies, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, RecordingEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Ricky Graham, RecordingSecondEngineer - Stephen Hilton, Programmer - Pete Lockett, Percussion - Cecilia Weston, Conductor
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - David Donaldson, Engineer, RecordingEngineer - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Mark 'Spike' Stent, MixingEngineer - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, RecordingEngineer - Keith Uddin, RecordingSecondEngineer - David Treahearn, MixingSecondEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Guitar, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Stephen Hilton, ProgrammingEngineer, Keyboard - Pete Lockett, Percussion - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Ali MacLeod, Guitar - Wendy Stubbs, Vocalist, MainArtist - Mat Fields , MixingSecondEngineer - Jan "Stan" Kybert, Engineer
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Limited
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - Richard Norris, RecordingEngineer - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Keith Uddin, RecordingSecondEngineer - Craig Armstrong, Producer, Piano, MainArtist, RecordingArranger - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Steven Lindsay, Vocalist, MainArtist
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Gavyn Wright, Concertmaster - Isobel Griffiths, OrchestraContractor - Armstrong, ComposerLyricist - Tim Young, MasteringEngineer - Geoff Foster, MixingEngineer, RecordingEngineer - Jenny O'Grady, ProductionCoordinator - Craig Armstrong, Producer, MainArtist, VocalArranger, RecordingArranger - Ricky Graham, RecordingSecondEngineer - Cecilia Weston, Conductor - Jenny O'Grady and The Metro Voices, Choir
(C) 2002 Virgin Records LtdThis label copy information is the subject of copyright protection. All rights reserved.(C) 2002 Virgin Records Ltd ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
Album review
If the lush, sweeping strings and ambient beats of The Space Between Us seemed cinematic, As if to Nothing suggests an even bolder turn toward film score territory. It's an indication of how Armstrong's stock rose after Moulin Rouge was released and after his work with Massive Attack was featured in advertisements and soundtracks around the world that so many collaborators join the fray here. Bono, Evan Dando, Mogwai, Photek, and David McAlmont all attempt star turns, and less well-known performers from Big Dish, Alpha, and Laub get in on the festivities as well. But Armstrong's string arrangements are still the focal point, to the extent that most of the collaborators are relegated to a back seat. The album's high points mostly reside in the instrumentals, though Evan Dando's vocals break through the electronic wash in "Wake up in New York" and former Big Dish member Steven Lindsay's voice shines through on "Let It Be Love." Swati Natekar and Mogwai give a strong showing with "Miracle" and Alpha vocalist Wendy Stubbs' tenderly voiced "Sea Song" is sublime, though less studio polish would have aided both songs. The showy reworking of U2's "Stay (Faraway, So Close!)" gives Bono the chance to emote like few contemporary U2 songs. The brilliant "Waltz" sees Laub's Antye Greie-Fuchs presenting a spoken-word manifesto over ambient gurgling. The instrumental "Inhaler" is a punishing change of pace, though it betrays a heavy Depeche Mode influence. Armstrong is certainly a talented studio technician, but there's a sense that he's relying too heavily on his patented string arrangements on As if to Nothing. While the album is another stylized dose of theatrical pop electronica, there is an undeniable feeling that Craig Armstrong is holding back.
© Tim DiGravina /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 15 track(s)
- Total length: 01:08:41
- Main artists: Craig Armstrong
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Virgin Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2002 Virgin Records Limited ℗ 2002 Virgin Records Ltd./Melankolic
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