Search - Thomas Otten :: Close to Silence

Unbelieable Vocal /Composition!

Joseph J. Hanssen | Upstate New York | 09/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is a young man with a beautiful counter-tenor voice that will overwhelm you when you hear him. I just can't stop playing this CD. It's not really new age,or ethnic music, but it does sound a little South African. Sometimes it reminds me of "Enigma" or "B Tribe." But the point is its great to relax to, or even use as meditation background. My two favorite tracks are; "Dulciate" and "Sanza." Now I only wish Thomas Otten would team-up with that other great counter-tenor, "Vyatcheslav Kagan-Paley" (who recently put out a CD title, "Ave Maria", 12 different versions) and then we would have one glorious and beautiful duo of breathtaking vocals. I look forward to Thomas Otten's next release."

In One Genre And Out The Other

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 10/16/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a curious surprise. The countertenor voice is an instrument that is rarely written for in this era, and just as rarely heard. To find it at the center fo an album that is thoroughly modern, and possibly even popular is to experience a strange moment of dislocation, as something old is used to evoke something contemporary. Frederic Momont is the composer of a set of pieces that are hard to pin down, and Thomas Otten is the chosen voice.



Working with Otten are classical elements as well as electronic. You will hear instrument samples, piano violins, cello and the true soprano voice of Caroline Mutel. Otten's voice itself has a fragile melancholy sweetness to it that can haunt the listener, blending with Mutel's crystalline sound occasionally to provide a fascinating contrast.



Momont's music is easy going and melodic, very much a vehicle for Otten's work with nary a touch of conflict between the two. The pieces alternate between classical texts such as Ombra Mai Fu and a Petrarch Sonnet to curious sets of syllables as in Close To Silence as well as verses by Momont. All this makes for an album that could be perceived very serious music or as polished background music. Very likeable in any case."

Amazing Voice & Composition ~ A MUST BUY!

lustmord | Bel Air, Maryland USA | 08/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was overwhelmed by Otten's voice when I listened to the short sample tracks and almost reduced to tears when I played it through the first time. Amazing, just amazing! Otten's blessed with a rich, pure, almost surreal voice and the ability to express profound emotion through it. It's beyond inspirational! I can't express my enthusiasm for his talent and will be waiting anxiously for him to offer us more. His website, listed in the cd cover credits is now on my favorites list, great background and story on this fine preformer and an easy way to track future projects and appearances!Composer Frederic Momont deserves atleast half the credit here. While the album openly credits Otten, Momont was it's composer, it's keyboardist and arranged and produced this album. His selection of Otten to preform here makes him perhaps the real force behind this audio spiritual experience. I'll be looking for more of him in the future as well.I have a novice fascination for Opera, yet cannot sit through a traditional Opera cd, there's always a point of boredom that sweeps over me, usually within 20 minutes. This cd more than satisfies my need to be moved by the range of human voice without overdosing me. It's as though Otten and Frederic took snippets of the most moving moments of an opera preformance and found a way to give them all to you in one glorious sitting.Don't hesitate to own this CD, it's priceless!"