Rhys Fulber had already proven his skills in ambient dance with
Delerium. On Conjure One, he develops his own ideas further, applying a wonderful grasp of sounds from the Mediterranean and Middle East.
Fulber traveled the world to put together this breathtaking work, which was recorded in Amsterdam, Vancouver, London, and Los Angeles. Given his busy production schedule, it's no surprise that this took three years to finish. The result is satisfying to say the least, as Conjure One is nothing short of sweeping ambient dance-pop. Like
Sarah McLachlan's contribution to
Delerium's "Silence," the guest vocalists here enhance
Fulber's already powerful songwriting. Most magnificent are
Sinéad O'Connor ("Tears From the Moon"),
Poe ("Center of the Sun"), and
Marie Claire D'Ubaldo ("Manic Star"). With other collaborations from
Billy Steinberg and
the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, this ethereal solo debut (if you can call it a solo effort) is another big step forward for
Fulber, as well as culturally diverse pop. A limited-edition version comes with a second disc of remixes. ~ Kenyon Hopkin