Search - Fauxliage :: Fauxliage

Beautifully understated and reflective

k-dog13 | 08/16/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Fauxliage proves to be a beautifully understated and reflective release from Leigh Nash, Bill Leeb, and Rhys Fulber. It is always good to hear a non FLA release from Bill and Rhys that has consistent sound to it and, while it contains synths and pads reminiscent of Delerium and Conjure One, Fauxliage isn't just a Delerium or C1 spin-off. It sounds as if Nash had a great deal of creative input in the project and the album truly benefits from this. Fauxliage is never bombastic or of the epic scale that some Delerium tracks can reach. Instead it tends to keep itself planted in reality while still musing on the airy and seductive.

The past few Delerium albums have been sketchy at times due to, I believe, the lack of an official lead vocalist. In the case of the Fauxliage release, Leigh Nash's vocals and temperament fit perfectly and give it cohesiveness. The overall mood is melancholic, but the sincerity of lyrics keeps it from coming across as merely an exercise in otherworldly drivel as is so often the case with ambient electronic music. Quite to the contrary, the stories of loss, confusion, and anger woven by Nash are relatable and emotionally authentic.

I suppose it would be fair to say that if you enjoyed the Leigh Nash songs on Chimera and Poem that you would gravitate to the sound of this album. This isn't to say that Fauxliage merely takes the formula of those songs and expands it to a full-length album. It maintains its own personality while harking back to the previous collaborations between Delerium and Nash. I would recommend that listeners who did not particularly care for those Delerium tracks (Innocente/Run For It/Orbit of Me) to at least check out this album and give it an honest appraisal.

There are a few drawbacks which almost kept me from giving Fauxliage 4 stars though. The album itself has only 9 proper songs and they are not exceptionally long. As I prefer Delerium's early to mid-90s material, it would have been nice to hear some of the tracks (especially the instrumentals) extended to further showcase Bill and Rhys' mastery of the art form. Then again, Fauxliage doesn't pretend to be a Delerium release, so that objection is truly due to my personal tastes. The other issue is the remixes. They stick out terribly at the end of CD and disrupt the mood that culminates so beautifully with "All Alone." While remixes can be a fun diversion they are typically better suited for a single and it is especially true in the case of these.

I would hope that Fauxliage is more than just a one-off between these three talented artists. It is an extremely pleasant surprise that I find more enjoyable to listen to as a whole than any of the last three Delerium releases. Understandably, Bill and Rhys have a lot of irons in the fire, but perhaps Fauxliage will only be the beginning of an ongoing musical relationship with Leigh Nash.

On a side note, the artwork for this album is beautiful although it's somewhat humorous to see Bill and Rhys covered with vines and flowers."

This is not a Delerium project

E. Anderson | 08/18/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know why Amazon has this new project by Rhys Fulber, Bill Leeb, and Leigh Nash listed as Delerium when the project is actually called Fauxliage. Nowhere on the cd packaging does it say Delerium. I think this is why a few people were disappointed with the album. They were expecting another Delerium cd. Having worked with Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer on the last few Delerium albums, Rhys, Bill and Leigh have re-joined forces for a full length album not under the Delerium name but as Fauxliage.



I had just heard about this new collaboration a couple of weeks ago. After hearing samples of their new songs, my curiousity was piqued. I have to confess that the album didn't really grab me right from the get go. The songs weren't as tuneful as Rhys and Bill's work as Delerium. I had to listen to the cd a few more times for the music to sink into my head. After a few listens, I began to really enjoy the fusion of pop, ambient, and folk.



I never really was a fan of Leigh Nash's work with Sixpence None the Richer but I have always enjoyed her collaborations with Rhys and Bill, especially on FAUXLIAGE. Her distinct vocals sounds much more palatable to the dreamy electronic/pop sounds of Delerium. I like the fact that FAUXLIAGE does not sound like a Delerium album. There is a warmth and organic sound that is rarely heard on Delerium's albums. The lush electronic beats are pure Delerium however the music is fused with guitars, bass, drums, and keyboards.



FAUXLIAGE may not be a perfect album but I still enjoy listening to it. The music is pleasant to listen to while drinking a steaming cup of tea and watching the rain gently fall from the sky."

...it hasn't incited delerium, but, it's still a pretty reco

Gary J. Figueroa | Waimea, Hawaii USA | 09/02/2007

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Having read the many insightful comments made regarding Leigh Nash & Fauxliage I'm inclined to add that it makes for a pretty, relaxed, quasi ethereal listen. Rhys & Bill are a bit too understated, but, it's Leigh's record. Frankly, I've gone to programming out the two remix forms of "Rafe" and now enjoy the cd more fully. The cover art is lovely, too. It's this listener's recommendation that Fauxliage is best bought at a decent sale price."