Member Since: 4/21/2006
Band Website: aurah.com
Band Members:
As nominated by broadcasters worldwide...
Aurah is a NAR LifeStyle Music Award Nomine!
Influences: Anything that inspires, that's real, that's truthful, unique, creative, stimulating....
REVIEWS from:
The Daily Vault
Rating: A-
It is not difficult to imagine something as trivial as pop music attempting something as deep-rooted as traditional ethnic music and turning it into something quite awkward.
Barring world music’s crowning achievements in the form of inspiring musical feats attempted by pop musicians like Peter Gabriel, Paul Simon and a handful of other métiers of pop music, more often than not the result of such a union of two grossly separate worlds -- by the likes of Apache Indian, Deep Forest and Enigma, just to name a few popular ones -- always lacks the modesty of the element of traditionalism and ends up sounding way too glamorous to be called fusion music at all. Yes, they may sound fun and catchy, but usually this is only because of slick Western beats and exquisite production.
On the other hand, when pop music tones down its gloss and everything does fall into place perfectly, the result is brilliant with a good balance of traditional earthiness and modern refinement, which is true in the case of Etherea Borealis by Aurah (comprised of duo Marc Donald and Judith Martin).
Etherea Borealis is spiritually tinged with plenty of Eastern -- primarily Indian -- vibes, infused with pop music, and the result couldn’t have been any sweeter. Without sounding klutzy or tawdry, Etherea Borealis is every bit a classy ethnic pop record. The downright indie-pop numbers (“I Love You For That†and “Cloudsâ€) are as stunning as the mystical ones (“Ready To Go†and “I Decree Peaceâ€), which are as brilliant as the psychedelic dreamscapes (“Karma†and “Etherea Borealisâ€) that the album takes us through.
Aurah’s laid back sensuous acoustic music style combined with an undertone of trip hop is very similar to Zero 7 and Air. Though the band has been called “electronica,†except for using the keys and programming for ambience the music is organic, featuring real studio drums and guitars. This holds true for Martin’s vocals as well, especially when she is trying out Eastern vocalization and it comes out chaste and pure (just listen to her sing on the grand album closer “I Decree Peaceâ€). This actually goes well with the band’s idea of wanting to be earthy and electronic at the same time.
Unlike most pop records with an ethnic flavor that try to mechanically follow a formula and sound more like chemistry experiments, Etherea Borealis is actually a well thought-of album with a human touch; there is actually a warmth in the blending of the traditional with the modern, which is so important, since the human aspect is such an integral part of ethnic music.
Etherea Borealis is far from straightforward. It has different layers that have to be peeled before one can understand the true essence of the record; but it doesn’t take an awful lot of listens to get to it, and it is certainly rewarding.
mog.com
We’ve met some lovely people so far in Los Angeles… two of whom comprise the atmospheric/ambient duo called Aurah, Mark Dold and Judith Martin. They are what most musicians can only dream about: actual working composers, producers, and performers. Mark and Judith manage their careers on their own terms, choosing to perform in private homes and organic spaces rather than smoky clubs, to score independent shorts, feature films, and TV shows, and to produce for some of the biggest names in the music industry. They could be rock stars if they wanted to, but that isn’t really neccessary.
www.djfix.com
Aurah is a perfect name for this band. For the moment you hit play, the listener is surrounded by a palpable atmosphere of ethereal beauty (yeah, the CD title is appropriate, too). Lovely currents of melody expressed with a mixture of organic and electronic flavors wash over you as seductive and pleasing vocals weave throughout the stratosphere of Aurah's lush, absorbing music. "Etherea Borealis" is an uberpretty slice of vocal ambient, a fine dish of chillout warmth (yeah, I know it's an oxymoron but it's true). This is music in which it's easy to become enveloped and enmeshed. And while it doesn't have the depth of texture possessed by some top shelf chillout, it's still a solid, enjoyable release. -- review by Kristofer Upjohn
smoother.net Ethereal vocals sway your mood amid downtempo grooves and experimental soundscapes. This is just the beginning of an album that soars high and hits hard. Crossing Dead Can Dance with Portishead and Zero 7, Aurah is a group that has made a bit of a name for themselves by composing the film score for “Loving Annabelle†and “Never Afterâ€, as well as having their music heard on “Little Miss Sunshine†and “Blood Diamondâ€. Melodic synthesizers offer a psychedelic landscape with heady music fit for the hippest lounges and clubs. J-Sin
Sounds Like: Dead Can Dance, Massive Attack, Pink Floyd, Morcheeba, .................................................... ...
Thanks for Jenni Young for the photo...
Record Label: Very Music
Type of Label: None