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Rhythm is the heart. The idea is the spirit. The voice is the soul. In his studio in Ibiza Spain, Jens Gad, the co-visionary of the multi-platinum group ENIGMA, is joined by the mesmerizing European dance/pop singer Luisa Fernandez. On this greatly anticipated second ACHILLEA release, they guide you on a new ethereal journey of global electronica, lush atmospheres, seductive Spanish vocals, entrancing guitar playing, and ingenious beats. Luisa Fernandez, born in Galicia in the north of Spain, has chosen her world language to guide a musical journey through different continents. Amadas Estrellas is a multi-cultural concept for an international audience and entirely produced on Spanish territory. Luisa's spiritually sensual vocals, based on Spanish poems of love, combined with the richly layered atmospheres and European dance club electronica that Jens Gad and ACHILLEA are renowned for is compelling and deeply satisfying. Let yourself go, escape into the sensory world of Achillea.
Release date: February 1, 2007
Published Reviews
Sequences Magazine, U.K, June 2007
The brain behind this album is one Jens Gad who spent many years working with Enigma. Monastic choirs, relaxing ambient rhythms, sultry female vocals courtesy of one Luisa Fernandez. Along with the widespread acoustic guitar, including Spanish flavors. Fernandez is, without doubt, a star in the making as her undoubted expertise really adds to the music's majestic qualities. The heavy guitar that adds real majestic power to 'Atacame' -uplifting, relaxing & quite romantic!
— Carl Jenkinson
Enigma News Editor
'Amadas Estrellas' is a shimmering welcome to the new world of sounds from Achillea, from Jens Gad. This is an example of well-equipped electronica meeting the eastern flavor. Dreamy, seducing, chilling. It will keep going on in your head even if you press the stop button when you finalize the experience. A deep, very deep archaic choir goes in and out, just like a movie score telling an epic tale. You will be blown away - Jens is pushing the limits once more, as he's one of the masters. This is a diamond! Like ice melting on a hot body...
— Onur Tezgeldi
Playlist
Jens Gad, formerly of Enigma, softens his delivery while maintaining what fans of early Enigma found so appealing, that blend of hypnotic rhythms and almost-holy, reverent vocalizing. On this release, Gad features the poetry and sensual voice of Spanish star Luisa Fernandez. The result is a smoldering passion, the sound of a hot Ibiza afternoon. This is serious seduction music.
— Anne Williams
Music Design in Review
With his second album under the name Achillea, Enigma co-producer Jens Gad (Le Spa Sonique) continues to traverse the valleys of chilled electronica, with an added dose of rhythm this time around. Whereas THE NINE WORLDS was a deep ambient affair, AMADAS ESTRELLAS takes a more ethnic (or more specifically Spanish) approach, accenting Gad's engrossingly mood-drenched trancescapes with Luisa Fernandez's sensual vocals and flamenco guitar. Among other things, that is, the album is rich with multi-cultural flavor including flute, Chinese erhu, ethnic percussion and sacred choral samples. The sound is reminiscent of both Enigma and B-Tribe; while at the same time have a unique quality that is distinctly Achillea. It's not often that an album is able to be sensual, spiritual and trendy all at once, but Gad pulls of the feat with panache.
Steve Ryals, Nationally Syndicated Music Columnist
As you probably know by now, I love supporting organizations and businesses that are making a difference in the world. So it is with Sequoia records and their Sequoia groove label. They donate a portion of the proceeds from the sale of all of their music to the Rain Forest Action Network, the United Nations Indigenous Peoples Fund and the Seva Foundation. It's good to know that by supporting Sequoia's great music we are also supporting our brothers and sisters on planet Earth.
Amadas Estrellas is the latest down tempo world groove album from Achillea. Jens Gad, Enigma's guitar maestro, is the driving force behind Achillea. I reviewed The Nine Worlds, Achillea's first album, in last December's newsletter. This time around, the seductive voice of Euro-pop legend Luisa Fernandez is featured, affording the listener Spanish language vocals to accompany Gad's sensuously juicy grooves. Her Palm's form the core of Amadas Estrellas, avoiding pop stylings in favor of a more ethnic sound. Fun and inventive trip hop beats ground in the music deep in the earth, while Euro-style synthesizers and delicious guitar licks dance over the soundscape like some happily demented party animal.
Fans of Enigma's signature sound are sure to enjoy Amadas Estrellas, though anyone who appreciates down tempo grooves and world beat sensuality are sure to appreciate it as well. Lyrical, enchanting and heart-centered, Amadas Estrellas lingers in the soul like star jasmine lingers in the nostrils. Perfect for active forms of meditation such as walking or dance, Amadas Estrellas is music to get your summer groove on.
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