Product Description A most startling, beautiful and extraordinary record, The Glare brings together the music of Michael Nyman with David McAlmont's voice one of the most praised instruments in British music. McAlmont explores pertinent subjects as varied as 21st century piracy ('Going to America'), trafficked prostitution in Europe ('City of Turin'), sexually-charged world leaders ('In Rai Don Giovanni'), assisted suicide ('Friendly Fire'), reality television ('The Glare'), African orphan migration ('Fever Sticks and Bones'), banking errors ('Take the Money and Run') and drug mules ('In Laos'). David felt strongly that the songs were most effective if written from the first person point of view of the individual characters discovered in the researched reports to create an emotional engagement with the subjects that is lost by the time their stories emerge in the glare of the 24 hour news media. As a collaborator David McAlmont has worked not only with film composers such as Craig Armstrong, David Arnold and now Michael Nyman, but he has also performed and recorded with Courtney Pine, Terence Blanchard, Cyndi Lauper and Guy Barker. Most famously he created two memorable top 40 albums as one half of McAlmont and Butler, a partnership that yielded the unforgettable songs 'Yes', 'You Do' and 'Falling'. He has also had success as a songwriter writing with Gary Clarke, Boo Hewerdine, Tommy D, Pascal Gabriel, Craig Armstrong, Jools Holland; and with David Arnold and Don Black for KD Lang, the song 'Surrender' for 'Tomorrow Never Dies', and for Shirley Bassey. Review ''exactly the right mix of mainstream appeal and quirky individuality to nab the Mercury Prize'' --Mark Edwards, The Sunday TimesOnce heard, you'll never want to live without it. Five stars --Independent on Sunday''a shoo-in for the 2010 Mercury Music Prize shortlist'' --Robert Sandall, theartsdesk.com
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About the Artist As one of Britain's most innovative and celebrated composers, Michael Nyman's work encompasses operas and string quartets, film soundtracks and orchestral concertos. Far more than merely a composer, he's also a performer, conductor, bandleader, pianist, author, musicologist and now a photographer and film-maker. Although he's far too modest to allow the description 'Renaissance Man', his restless creativity and multi-faceted art has made him one of the most fascinating and influential cultural icons of our times. See more
Reviews
4.2
All from verified purchases
M**N
An intruiging new slant on the news
This is an unusual collaberation between the minimalist composer Michael Nyman and the exquisite voice of Mc Almont,where the latter was encouraged to write songs and lyrics set to some of Nyman's own existing music-('The Glare' for example is about Susan Boyle of X Factor fame). You will not hear the news told like this anyere else! The songs are entertaining,sometimes poignant,always interesting and highly expressive thanks to McAlmont's vocal range. I was present at the World Premier of this work at the Union Chapel London, and my only regret now is that I didn't buy a signed copy in the interval before the actual performance because I heard Michael Nyman saying to someone "It's very brave of you to buy it before you've heard it!"
R**1
So this is rapture
No album has ever touched me like this one. This album is like a huge crystal chandalier - breathtaking in its scale and beauty; but fragile, delicate, and all the more magnificent for it.McAlmont takes the news stories you see in two-inch columns in the newspaper every day, shake your head, and forget about, and he turns them into the kind of personal heartbreak that could apply to all of our lives.Michael Nyman is already celebrated, and rightly so, but David McAlmont is a real national treasure who deserves far more attention than he has ever received.
E**Y
Takes a bit of getting into!
I absolutely love Michael Nyman's music and would recommend him to anyone, but this album takes a bit of getting used to. I have played it a few times and it is slowly growing on me but it seems strange to have someone singing to pieces of music I know so well and have a life of their own.
D**.
Nyman is a good foil for David although other groups could do an ...
David McAlmont is superb on this album based on songs relating to newspaper head lines. Nyman is a good foil for David although other groups could do an equally good job (not a fan of Nyman) as David stole the show at a live performance of this set. .A must for fans od David McAlmont.
M**G
One that got away
Glad I spotted this on Amazon's 'great underrated CDs of 2009' a while back. I'm familiar with both mens' work, although more so Michael Nyman. McAlmont perfectly compliments the sparse soundscapes and gives flesh to the wonderful tunes that are Nyman's trademark. The running time is not overly generous, but what there is of it is well worth the investment.
J**Y
Interesting
Really liked this CD. Am a fan of David McAlmont as he has a fantastic voice so thought I'd give this a go- glad I did.
N**E
Extraordinary
A brilliant album of interpretations from Michael Nymans back catalogue, lifted even more by the gorgeous sound of David McAlmont, beautiful.
P**Y
A startling, extraordinary and an intensely beautiful album
McAlmont & Nyman: The Glare
A marriage made in heaven. Why hasn't someone thought of this before? Is it a pop record? Is it a classical record? Actually - it's both and it's also something quite quite new. It's more than just a cross-over...it's a new genre! It's so much more than a wonderful collaboration...it's a whole new soundscape. David McAlmont's soulful melodies and pure lyricism has found Michael Nyman's powerful, driving, sensual, highly emotive and unforgettable music.McAlmont's lyrics explores pertinent and topical news stories as varied as 21st century piracy (Going to America), trafficked prostitution in Europe (City of Turin), sexually-charged world leaders (In Rai Don Giovanni), assisted suicide (Friendly Fire), reality television (The Glare), African orphan migration (Fever Sticks and Bones), banking errors (Take the Money and Run) and drug mules (In Laos).McAlmont and Nyman have created something truly memorable and unique. The result is a startling, extraordinary and an intensely beautiful album.
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As one of Britain's most innovative and celebrated composers, Michael Nyman's work encompasses operas and string quartets, film soundtracks and orchestral concertos. Far more than merely a composer, he's also a performer, conductor, bandleader, pianist, author, musicologist and now a photographer and film-maker. Although he's far too modest to allow the description 'Renaissance Man', his restless creativity and multi-faceted art has made him one of the most fascinating and influential cultural icons of our times.
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You will not hear the news told like this anyere else! The songs are entertaining,sometimes poignant,always interesting and highly expressive thanks to McAlmont's vocal range. I was present at the World Premier of this work at the Union Chapel London, and my only regret now is that I didn't buy a signed copy in the interval before the actual performance because I heard Michael Nyman saying to someone \"It's very brave of you to buy it before you've heard it!\""},{"@type":"Review","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":"5.0"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"R***1"},"datePublished":"Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 March 2010","name":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n So this is rapture\n \n","reviewBody":"No album has ever touched me like this one. This album is like a huge crystal chandalier - breathtaking in its scale and beauty; but fragile, delicate, and all the more magnificent for it.McAlmont takes the news stories you see in two-inch columns in the newspaper every day, shake your head, and forget about, and he turns them into the kind of personal heartbreak that could apply to all of our lives.Michael Nyman is already celebrated, and rightly so, but David McAlmont is a real national treasure who deserves far more attention than he has ever received."},{"@type":"Review","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":"3.0"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"E***Y"},"datePublished":"Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2010","name":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Takes a bit of getting into!\n \n","reviewBody":"I absolutely love Michael Nyman's music and would recommend him to anyone, but this album takes a bit of getting used to. I have played it a few times and it is slowly growing on me but it seems strange to have someone singing to pieces of music I know so well and have a life of their own."},{"@type":"Review","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":"5.0"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"D***."},"datePublished":"Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 February 2015","name":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Nyman is a good foil for David although other groups could do an ...\n \n","reviewBody":"David McAlmont is superb on this album based on songs relating to newspaper head lines. Nyman is a good foil for David although other groups could do an equally good job (not a fan of Nyman) as David stole the show at a live performance of this set. .A must for fans od David McAlmont."},{"@type":"Review","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":"5.0"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"M***G"},"datePublished":"Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 January 2014","name":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n One that got away\n \n","reviewBody":"Glad I spotted this on Amazon's 'great underrated CDs of 2009' a while back. I'm familiar with both mens' work, although more so Michael Nyman. McAlmont perfectly compliments the sparse soundscapes and gives flesh to the wonderful tunes that are Nyman's trademark. The running time is not overly generous, but what there is of it is well worth the investment."},{"@type":"Review","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":"4.0"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"J***Y"},"datePublished":"Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 6 August 2010","name":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Interesting\n \n","reviewBody":"Really liked this CD. Am a fan of David McAlmont as he has a fantastic voice so thought I'd give this a go- glad I did."},{"@type":"Review","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":"5.0"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"N***E"},"datePublished":"Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 December 2012","name":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n Extraordinary\n \n","reviewBody":"A brilliant album of interpretations from Michael Nymans back catalogue, lifted even more by the gorgeous sound of David McAlmont, beautiful."},{"@type":"Review","reviewRating":{"@type":"Rating","ratingValue":"5.0"},"author":{"@type":"Person","name":"P***Y"},"datePublished":"Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 October 2009","name":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n A startling, extraordinary and an intensely beautiful album\n \n","reviewBody":"McAlmont & Nyman: The Glare\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n \n A marriage made in heaven. Why hasn't someone thought of this before? Is it a pop record? Is it a classical record? Actually - it's both and it's also something quite quite new. It's more than just a cross-over...it's a new genre! It's so much more than a wonderful collaboration...it's a whole new soundscape. David McAlmont's soulful melodies and pure lyricism has found Michael Nyman's powerful, driving, sensual, highly emotive and unforgettable music.McAlmont's lyrics explores pertinent and topical news stories as varied as 21st century piracy (Going to America), trafficked prostitution in Europe (City of Turin), sexually-charged world leaders (In Rai Don Giovanni), assisted suicide (Friendly Fire), reality television (The Glare), African orphan migration (Fever Sticks and Bones), banking errors (Take the Money and Run) and drug mules (In Laos).McAlmont and Nyman have created something truly memorable and unique. The result is a startling, extraordinary and an intensely beautiful album."}],"aggregateRating":{"@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":4.5,"bestRating":5,"ratingCount":8}}
