I’m not sure why, but I have had a lot of service calls lately that resulted in hardware components having to be replaced. In the past couple weeks, I’ve replaced five sets of memory modules, a network adapter, three monitors, two video cards, and a hard drive. Fortunately, none of these have been on enterprise-level machines, but just on personal computers. It is strange, though, that hardware is going bad on relatively new machines. Four out of the five sets of memory modules were bad out of the box. I guess that hardware vendors are not going through rigorous enough quality testing before shipping out parts.
May 01 2011
Review of Libera’s Song of Life
After having listened to Libera’s new single Song of Life about 40 times now, I think I can write a fairly decent review of the piece. The amazing music was written by Japanese composer Takatsugu Muramatsu, the beautiful words written by Robert Prizeman (who also did the arrangement), and the phenomenal solo on the recorded track was performed by Ralph Skan (pictured at left). The song starts out with a nice piano part and a single ethereal voice (I’m not certain of whose [or if it is mapped], but I would guess James Mordaunt), followed by Ralph’s solo in the opening verse. Light percussion, accompaniment, and certainly not least, the other boys join right before the chorus.
For the line “Love plays along in our lives yet to come,” I don’t believe it is Ralph in the foreground. However, he finishes off the chorus with “as we join in the song of life.” After the first chorus, there is a short interlude of many of the choristers harmonising beautifully (possibly my favourite part of the piece). This interlude fades seamlessly into the next verse. The song finishes with an iteration of the chorus, slowing down at the last line.
I have always loved any new piece that Libera performs, but I didn’t think that any would ever replace Adoramus from their album Free (the version with voice in the beginning, not the latter rendition with a violin mimicking the voice). I stand corrected. I can only think about the performances on the Canadian tour when I listen to this piece. In particular, I visualise the arrangement as performed at Chatham. There is no single element of the piece that makes it my new favourite, but rather the combination of the lovely, simplistic piano (and arrangement during the chorus), the opening voice, Ralph’s incredible solos, and the outstanding harmonies during the choruses and interlude. Simply awe inspiring.
Lyrics:
There’s a whisper in the dark
as a new life comes to be.
Then a song begins to form
as it finds the harmony.
With the chorus of sound
of the world all around,
now it blends in the tune
joining the endless song of life.
Chorus:
We shall never be alone
as we link our hearts in one,
Joining voices from above,
all in the miracle of life.
Through the ages we will grow,
only time will ever know,
as our voices magnify,
all in the miracle of life.
Love plays along in our lives yet to come
as we join in the song of life.
Interlude
Now the music starts to build
as the words begin to rhyme
then another lends a tune
as their voices now combine
With the chorus of sound
of the world all around,
now it blends in the tune
joining the endless song of life.
Chorus:
We shall never be alone
as we link our hearts in one,
Joining voices from above,
all in the miracle of life.
Through the ages we will grow,
only time will ever know,
as our voices magnify,
all in the miracle of life.
Love plays along in our lives yet to come
as we join in the song of life.
Apr 30 2011
Early birthday present
As much as I don’t want to think about it, my birthday is a week from today. I got a great early birthday present though. A few months back, I was blown away by the sound quality of the Bose AE2 headphones. I’ve wanted to get a really nice pair of headphones (given the amount of music I listen to in the office), but hadn’t ever found the right pair. The AE2s fit around the ear (Around Ear 2), and they are absolutely incredible! They work wonderfully for the myriad types of music I enjoy each day, from the pure beauty of Libera, to the new-age sounds of Enya, to the opposite extremes of Anberlin and even the loud crunch of As I Lay Dying.
More information about the AE2s can be found on the Bose website. Now that I have these outstanding headphones, I will be able to write an even better review of the new Libera mini-album Song of Life that came in the mail a couple days ago (can’t believe it only took four days from Tokyo). I will likely write the review tomorrow.
What an incredible birthday present! I can’t express how much I appreciate such a thoughtful gift.
Thought for the Moment
