Eklipse: A Night In Strings

Eklipse are a sexy, sassy four-piece who take well established Pop songs and the odd Rock tune and re-imagine them into a string quartet setting. With the likes of El Divo doing something similar for Opera lovers, it is easy to see what Eklipse are trying to achieve with their debut album A Night In Strings. However a quick glance at the edgy image of the four beautiful ladies that make up this outfit suggests so much more. The image is edgy, threatening, domineering. Unfortunately the music itself is as safe as houses.

If you had ever wondered what Cold Play, Snow Patrol, Justin Timberlake or Lady Gaga songs would sound like in a classical setting, (if you have, then it is really time to look for a better way to fill your time...), then Eklipse will certainly be for you. The renditions are beautifully crafted and superbly performed - there's absolutely no doubt about that. Oddly though, the people who are going to want to hear these types of songs played in this manner are going to, more than likely, be scared off by the scantily clad, face painted, stocking and suspender clad sirens on the cover. While those intrigued by the sexy, challenging image, will be left confused by what is in essence a Classical easy listening experience.

There's no doubting the huge amount of talent it takes to put this type of album together so seamlessly and when the song choice is a little more interesting, as it is on Kate Bush's "Cloudbusting", or even Cold Play's "Clocks", the results do contain a stark, mature charm. That said, considering how both of these songs were originally constructed, the leap from Pop to Classical really isn't all that stretching.

A Night In Strings is the sort of album you'd plop on when you have a house full of guests who don't like Rock music, and expect a most intrigued response. However for the rest of us, while there are aspects to be impressed by on this release, there is very little to get excited about. That fact that the quartet's website seems more interested in flashing through images of the ladies of Eklipse in various states of undress, should tell you everything you need to know about this album.

Track Listing
1. Wonderful Life (HURTS)
2. In The End (LINKIN PARK)
3. New-Moon Theme (THEME FROM ECLIPSE-NEW MOON)
4. Home (DEPECHE MODE)
5. Cry Me A River (JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE)
6. Cloudbusting (KATE BUSH)
7. Paparazzi (LADY GAGA)
8. Run (SNOW PATROL)
9. Mumbai-Theme (THEME FROM BOMBAY)
10. Clocks (COLDPLAY)

Added: April 21st 2012
Reviewer: Steven Reid
Score:
Related Link: Eklipse Official WebSite
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Language: english

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