Delicious whispery longing music
Sylvie M. Beauvais | Philadelphia, PA USA | 05/12/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The quality of the singer's voice reminds me of a blend of Aimee Mann and the Cowboy Junkies' lead singer. The sound overall is reminiscent of Morcheeba and Air, though the singer is more talented and poignant. The music is a mix of the lively and the mellow, all very melodic. The album is great to end an evening gently, great to start a dreamy saturday slowly. The two best tracks are probably "We do what we want to" and "Lonely Ghosts." It's classified as alternative rock, but I think of it as pleasant electronica. All in all, hypnotic, a little melancholy (songs seeming to be primarily concerned with heartbreak) but wonderful."
Deceptively sweet and laid-back
Kristin King | Brisbane, Australia | 04/01/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"On first listen, I found O+S a deceptively sweet laid-back release. Repeat listening doesn't diminish either of those qualities, but there is certainly more depth too. There is a haunting note to the CD, the soft vocals often working with lighter sounds to balance the occasionally moody and dark sounds from getting any further than bittersweet. Each of the songs is very good and have an interesting combination of vocals and music, each keeping a fairly distinct sound. Fink's voice is the lynchpin here, used to great effect in keeping a haunting tone, but keeping the tone and the sound of the album from being too disparate. Another interesting note is the use of samples, most interestingly in "We Do What We Want To Do" and "Toreador". These samples, recordings of real sounds, add a texture that the CD would have been lacking without, particularly given the 80's influences that sneak in via the use of synth in a couple of tracks, such as "Survive Love" and "New Life".
This collaboration between Orenda Fink and Scalpelist, aka Cedric LeMoyne (the O and S of the name respectively) has produced an interesting and beautiful CD that is haunting and ethereal in turns. Grounded often by a beat and sometimes without any form of percussion whatsoever, the songs are never boring, and they offer such a wonderful listening experience, that I can't wait to see what happens next for this compelling collaboration."
Great CD
Audiophile | Minneapolis, MN | 02/19/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The album is awesome. It is surreal and calm but it draws you in and never lets you go. Any music lover owes it to themself to get this CD and skip the MP3s :P. Just be warned, this doesn't come in a hard case, it comes in those flimsy cardboard cases that distributers are starting to favor as of late."