Geoff Downes & Anne-Marie Helder

[Rufus]

Any fans of Geoff Downes solo?

GEOFF DOWNES AND ANNE-MARIE HELDER RELEASE THEIR COLLABORATIVE ALBUM:
The new album, Electronica, is a collaboration between Geoff Downes and Anne-Marie Helder and has been released by NDO Records, via Cherry Red, on both CD and Download.
The album had previously only been available on a direct to consumer basis and now receives its first distribution and digital release in time for Christmas 2013. The direct to consumer version, which featured the same 12 tracks, received tremendous critical acclaim and was for sale on the 2012 and 2013 Yes World Tours.
The album's unique mix of dance and pop along with Helder's award winning melodic vocals, gives listeners a unique blend on genres not easily pre-judged or ignored. The album has the potential to appeal to all age ranges and music tastes, yet does not confine itself to any one taste, feel or genre nametag.
Geoff Downes commented "The concept of the New Dance Orchestra is to create entirely 'virtual' orchestrations, utilising a variety of musical instruments made up from computerised technology and other various audio resources. Electronica is the result of a collection of carefully crafted songs using these orchestral treatments on each individual track in different ways."
Geoff Downes is a member of The Buggles, Yes and ASIA. Downes co-wrote and played on the hits Video Killed The Radio Star and Heat Of The Moment.
Anne-Marie Helder is a member of Panic Room and Mostly Autumn. Helder won Prog Magazine's Best Female Vocalist Award in both 2010 and 2011.
The album is available from all good record stores, a dedicated micro-site, Cherry Red and digital retailers including iTunes.
Available to buy from: www.newdanceorchestra.com / www.cherryred.co.uk/shopexd.asp?id=4415 / itunes.apple.com/gb/album/electronica/id744843828.

[bondegezou]

It's a quite good album. It's not prog: it's Downes trying to do dance-pop and he almost but doesn't quite get the modern genre, so there's some nice melodies, Helder sings well, but it has few stand-out moments.

Henry

[battema]

I like it, but the Downes Braide Association is even better IMHO.

[JKL2000]

Perfect for ages 8 to 80.

I like it, but the Downes Braide Association is even better IMHO.

I'm always thankful for the work the Downes Braide Association is doing to rid the world of this horrible condition.

[bondegezou]

I like it, but the Downes Braide Association is even better IMHO.

Oh yes, DBA much better.

Henry

[Scott Bails]

I like it, but the Downes Braide Association is even better IMHO.

Haven't picked up the Anne-Marie Helder album yet, but DBA and The Producers' albums were a great 1-2 punch.

[ChrisXymphonia]

The success of the DBA and Producers album can probably for a large part be ascribed to the qualities of singer-songwriter and producer Chris Braide who is one of the topwriters right know in the world of mainstream pop.

Just look here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Braide

[Patelena396]

I thought this album was entertaining. I bought it when Downes starting selling it a while back. The Downes Braide album was one of my favorites in the last year or two. I hope it was a success and they do another album together. Really, REALLY liked the DBA album.

[bondegezou]

The success of the DBA and Producers album can probably for a large part be ascribed to the qualities of singer-songwriter and producer Chris Braide who is one of the topwriters right know in the world of mainstream pop.

Just look here : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Braide

I like Braide's work. DBA is a lovely album and he was great back when he was performing live with the Producers. However, on the album, I actually think his songs are the weakest. The best material is mostly Trevor.

Henry

[Scott Bails]

I agree, Henry. Trevor's songs are excellent. Even moreso when you learn what they're about (his now-deceased wife).

[bondegezou]

I agree, Henry. Trevor's songs are excellent. Even moreso when you learn what they're about (his now-deceased wife).

I believe she's still alive, in a permanent vegetative state. She certainly was when Made in Basing Street was recorded. Which adds another level of poignancy to "Garden of Flowers".

Henry

[Scott Bails]

Oh...could have sworn that she had passed away. Very sad, either way.

[Patelena396]

I like Braide's work. DBA is a lovely album and he was great back when he was performing live with the Producers. However, on the album, I actually think his songs are the weakest. The best material is mostly Trevor.

Henry

Henry, do you know if the DBA sold well? As I mentioned above, I would love to see them do another album together. Whatever it sold, I am sure it deserved to sell more, but just curious if the sales were respectable enough to warrant a follow up.

[JKL2000]

Am I the only one who thinks Downes Braide Association sounds like the name of a medical charity? I HOPE they used this name on purpose and it's a sort of joke, because if they didn't, they sure came up with a lame name.

[Patelena396]

Am I the only one who thinks Downes Braide Association sounds like the name of a medical charity? I HOPE they used this name on purpose and it's a sort of joke, because if they didn't, they sure came up with a lame name.

I think the name describes exactly what the project is but it could have been tongue in cheek on their part. Personally, I don't care what they call it when the music is as good as it is in on that album. You sure seem fascinated with it though as I believe you have mentioned your opinion of it on other threads about the album as well. Maybe they had the opinion that, good or bad, the DBA moniker would have people talking about it. If you are any indication, that seems to be the truth.

[JKL2000]

I think the name describes exactly what the project is but it could have been tongue in cheek on their part. Personally, I don't care what they call it when the music is as good as it is in on that album. You sure seem fascinated with it though as I believe you have mentioned your opinion of it on other threads about the album as well. Maybe they had the opinion that, good or bad, the DBA moniker would have people talking about it. If you are any indication, that seems to be the truth.

It's just that the first time I saw the band mentioned (which was in a thread title a while back) I didn't even know it was referring to a band - I thought it was another "illness" thread. I've never heard of Braide and still don't know who he is. Yes, I did make some jokes about the name a couple of times before, but the only reason I've repeated it is because I was so surprised no one else seemed to think it was an odd name. IMO it's the funniest name since YOSO.

[Scott Bails]

I'm sure they were playing off of the "DBA" acronym, which means "doing business as" in the business world.

[JKL2000]

Also stands for Database Analyst. I know that should be "DA," but they're called DBAs.

Do they use DBA (the initials) in their graphics? If I saw DBA, I'd think of Database Analyst first.

[dregsfan]

They do use "DBA" in some of their graphics. Orginally, it stood for 'Downes Braide Affair" as the two were working on the project somewhat clandestinely, as abit of a joke.

[bondegezou]

Henry, do you know if the DBA sold well? As I mentioned above, I would love to see them do another album together. Whatever it sold, I am sure it deserved to sell more, but just curious if the sales were respectable enough to warrant a follow up.

No idea on sales, I'm afraid. It certainly deserved to sell well.

And for those who don't know who Braide is, he's released solo albums and other collaborations before, but his 'day job' is a writer/producer for top pop acts, so he did a lot on Lana Del Rey's Born to Die, but has also worked with Britney Spears, Beyoncé Knowles, Christina Aguilera, Delta Goodrem, Paloma Faith, Pixie Lott, Olly Murs, JLS, The Saturdays, Cheryl Cole, Westlife, Lisa Stansfield, Kylie Minogue, S Club 7 and two former Spice Girls. Big successes include co-writing and co-producing David Guetta's "She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)", which went top 10 in the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium etc. and was a US dance chart #1; co-writing "Don't Call This Love", the UK/Ireland top ten by X Factor's Leon Jackson; co-writing Clay Aiken's "This is the Night", a US #1; co-writing a UK #1 ("Have You Ever") and a UK #2 ("Say Goodbye") by S Club 7; and co-writing/producing four songs on Diana Vickers' UK #1 album Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree.

Henry

[bondegezou]

Orginally, it stood for 'Downes Braide Affair" as the two were working on the project somewhat clandestinely, as abit of a joke.

They were working on it in the mornings between sessions for Yes's Fly from Here.

Henry

[Patelena396]

No idea on sales, I'm afraid. It certainly deserved to sell well.

And for those who don't know who Braide is, he's released solo albums and other collaborations before, but his 'day job' is a writer/producer for top pop acts, so he did a lot on Lana Del Rey's Born to Die, but has also worked with Britney Spears, Beyoncé Knowles, Christina Aguilera, Delta Goodrem, Paloma Faith, Pixie Lott, Olly Murs, JLS, The Saturdays, Cheryl Cole, Westlife, Lisa Stansfield, Kylie Minogue, S Club 7 and two former Spice Girls. Big success include co-writing and co-producing David Guetta's "She Wolf (Falling to Pieces)", which went top 10 in the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Belgium etc. and US dance chart #1; co-writing "Don't Call This Love", the UK/Ireland top ten by X Factor's Leon Jackson; co-writing Clay Aiken's "This is the Night", a US #1; co-writing a UK #1 ("Have You Ever") and a UK #2 ("Say Goodbye") by S Club 7; and co-writing/producing four songs on Diana Vickers' UK #1 Songs from the Tainted Cherry Tree.

Henry

Thanks Henry. Yes, Chris is quite in demand in the pop world. I have little to no interest in Braide's work as a writer for other, very successful acts, though I am sure it pays the bills and more. He is definitely more successful at that role than with his own work. A real shame actually because he is a very talented performer. Plus, he has a great singing voice. I have most of his albums and they offer up some very entertaining music. Aside from the DBA album, I also especially enjoy the 'Hello Leo' album and his solo albums, 'Something always happens ' and 'You can't be friends with everyone'.