bond (Classical) |
 |
|
Tue. October 17.2000 3:00 AM EDT |
||
Bond's Debut Album Kicked Off UK Classical ChartsBorn also enters pop albums chart at #36. by Contributing Editor RW Deutsch |
||||
|
||||
 |
Bond were assembled by the man who brought the world the wet-T-shirt-clad violinist, Vanessa-Mae. ( ) |
|
||
Bond, the string quartet that has been referred to as the "Spice Girls of classical music," have been banned from the UK classical-music charts. Their debut CD, Born, hit #2 on the classical charts last week but was
Bond appeared shaken, not stirred as they lashed out at the decision in the British press. "In a modern world, it is disappointing that the classical elite cannot embrace change," Bond violinist Haylie Ecker, 24, said in a statement. "We are all classical musicians." The musicians are classical, perhaps, but according to CIN's charts operations manager Paul Clifford, their album — a mix of classics, original tunes and world music — is not. "HMV [music stores] were racking it up as classical, so that's how we viewed it at first, but these things are subject to review," Clifford told Annova news. "Our classical supervisory committee felt that it was basically a pop record." "Our album, Born, is a classical musical mixture of sounds and rhythms from around the world," Ecker said. "We have a poetic license to entertain people all around the globe, which is what our album does." The group was brought together about a year ago by Mel Bush, the man responsible for managing the career of violinist Vanessa-Mae (who raised eyebrows when she posed in a wet T-shirt). Bush found the Bond lineup — which also includes cellist Gay-Yee Westerhoff, 26, violinist Eos (pronounced AY-os), 24, and violist Tania Davis, 24 — in two separate duos and brought them together. Decca Records (a division of Universal Classics) subsequently signed the group. Born was released last week in the UK. There are plans to issue the album in the United States early next year — with a big promotional campaign. "Bond are sassy, sexy and they have a lot to say," Universal Classics spokesperson Linda Valentine told London's The Guardian. "In fact, they are much better looking than the Spice Girls. But we don't welcome comparisons. The Bond girls are proper musicians; they have paid their dues." Eos has also recorded with pop acts including the Cocteau Twins and Julian Cope; Westerhoff has accompanied Sting and Talvin Singh. Bond's members were trained at the UK's leading musical institutions, including the Royal College of Music. Valentine insisted that the group is not just another manufactured pop group, but is on a mission to end snobbery in the classical world. "They are also providing glamorous role models that young people who might be interested in playing classical instruments can identify with," Valentine said. "I love classical music. I really enjoy every other style of music as well, so this is ideal for me because it brings all those together," Westerhoff said. Charts and categories notwithstanding, Bond are part of a new generation of artists — including Vanessa-Mae, ex-model and cellist Nina Kotova and Finnish violinist Linda Brava (who posed in Playboy) — who are bringing the sex-appeal marketing of pop stars into the still-conservative world of classical music. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
  |
 |
 |
Receive Free Music News Daily Via Email |
|
Receive Free Artist Updates Via Email for bond (Classical) |
|
All news for bond (Classical) |
|
Breaking Music News |
 |
Add VH1 News to My Yahoo |
|
