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songs that shimmer, a voice that soars... Susan Raven is a singer and songwriter, a 21st Century troubadour with a rich and haunting voice. Her acclaimed debut album Glittering Cities (4-stars at AllMusicguide.com), is a cinematic journey from start to finish, an emotion-fired collection of majestic songcraft with strong vocal performances that fall somewhere between Grace Slick, Sinead O'Connor and the Cranberries.  The arrangements soar, ranging from multi-layered synth programs over dance grooves through to a pure acoustic and orchestral approach. Ethereal instrumentation and inspired performances from, among others, members of the Peter Gabriel and Salif Keita bands, perfectly establish the sonic aura around her thought-provoking lyrics.
There are three songs from Susan's debut album "Glittering Cities" and three songs from the latest album, "Ravensong", here at IAC for your listening pleasure. Please do listen to them, and if you enjoy what you hear, you should visit Susan's web site where there are previews of all of the songs on both of these albums. Susan Raven: "I write all my songs on a vintage Martin 12-string guitar. It is an entire band in one instrument, the harmonics and drones that spin out from the strumming suggest many of the overdubs that follow. I take a song and hone it until the base-metal turns to gold. I write lyrics to trigger emotions, memories and inspiration in people and as my craft has matured, so a strong individual sound has emerged. My music has been variously described as Cosmic World Fusion, Space Rock and Ethno-Pop." INDEPENDENT REVIEWS  The AllMusicGuide - 4-star review: "Susan Raven's debut album, Glittering Cities, is transcendent. Though the spiritual theme of the music may not appeal to everyone's taste, the excellence of production and exquisite melding of the instrumentals and vocals will. Raven's voice is gorgeous, and her original compositions are moving and insightful. All cuts are technically excellent. While some may be less lyrically detailed, as with the somewhat simplistic command of "Stack Your Guns," others sail and soar. The title song is a lucid and vibrant example of Raven's total production ethereal, shimmering, and visionary. (Fans may recognize David Rhodes' guitar on this track from his performances in Peter Gabriel's band.) Also outstanding are the haunting and evocative 'Saturn' and the warmly heartfelt 'I Think of You', a eulogy for two friends. Particularly noteworthy accompaniment comes from Steffy Sharpstring's glissando guitar and Hilaire Penda's bass on '"Saturn', as well as on 'I Think of You'. In all, this album is a positive introduction to a very talented artist whose skill is clearly presented, not simply in her personal performance, but in her ability to choose other musicians and producers as talented as she is, and create a superb total composition with their support."
CDBaby.com: "Majestic songcraft bolstered by a strong vocal performance from singer songwriter Susan Raven; the scope of the music is reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's ambitious catalogue - a beautiful album." |
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Roundton
...a conversation with the keeper of the cauldron of inspiration! Also from the new album "Ravensong", featuring the beautiful and evocative whistle playing of Robert White, as well as a lovely ethnic vibe created through the rhythmic and melodic interplay of the bass and the marimbula.
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Cosmic World Fusion
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Hello
A call from the still, small voice within us all! Also from the new album Ravensong, this emotive and powerful song features a wonderful one-take Steffe Sharpstrings guitar solo.
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Cosmic World Fusion
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Glittering Cities
This is the title track of Susan Raven's critically-acclaimed debut album. It is a splendid mixture of sitars, dance rhythms and mantras with a glorious tale of spiritual flight on a rich, melodic top line. Featuring David Rhodes, that fine guitarist from Peter Gabriels band, this track is a rich and full journey of seven minutes plus of sumptuous melody and ethereal imagery.
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Cosmic World Fusion
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Saturn
A haunting, turbulent piece from Susan's stunning album that starts with a chant calling the names of seven planets described in Rudolf Steiner's Occult Science as the seven incarnations of the being known as Earth. Written in a minor key the glissando guitar sends you out into far space and Hilaire Penda's bass line drives the spacecraft on a gorgeous groove.
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Cosmic World Fusion
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Making Mischief
A song from the new album "Ravensong" featuring layered vocals and acoustic guitars with pedal steel, sentir, marimbula and more, creating an intriguing blend of African, Country and Celtic vibes. It's about a jealous friend, about being on centre-court returning serve... watch out for the jealous ones - they make the most trouble!
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Cosmic World Fusion
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I Think of You
Susan's beautifully haunting vocal dances over an ebb and flow of 12-string guitars and Irish whistles. The engine-room of the song features the innovative bass playing of West African Hilaire Penda (Salif Keita Band) weaving his magic around quirky, tin-soldier drums, programmed by engineer/producer Satch Norton.
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Cosmic World Fusion
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Compact Disc
Ravensong
Emotionally and spiritually charged songcraft with strong and poignant vocal performances in the genre of Celtic World Fusion a la Peter Gabriel, Dido, Sarah McLachlan.
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World
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Compact Disc
Glittering Cities
"Majestic songcraft bolstered by a strong vocal performance from singer songwriter Susan Raven; the scope of the music is reminiscent of Peter Gabriel's ambitious catalog - a beautiful album." - CDBaby.com
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World
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Comments
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Roy Muniz
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8/3/2010 6:21:44 PM
"Hello" Susan...is great!
All the best to you songwriter, wellness and peace; roy muniz
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Bryon Tosoff
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8/3/2010 12:01:26 PM
Stellar arrangement to Hello Susan. a gripping and awesome song and that is some killer guitar going on.....
your music is special.
rock on
bryon
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Slimdog Productions
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1/11/2010 10:09:14 PM
Happy New Year Susan!!!
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Conversation Suicide
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1/11/2010 3:23:00 AM
CHeeRs, to a GREAT 2010 for Susan Raven !!!
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The CODE
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12/31/2009 8:46:07 AM
Happy New Year S & S!
Best Wishes for 2010!
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Neil w Young and The Legendary Bear Creek Band
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12/16/2009 7:54:23 PM
Wishing you and yours peace, love, happiness, beautiful music, new memories to warm you and new dreams to inspire you.
Merry Christmas Susan.
Neil
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Black Velvet Lace
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12/15/2009 10:08:28 PM
Susan, merry merry!!!!!!
xoxoxoxox
~Lace~
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Black Ether
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11/4/2009 9:38:03 PM
absolutely gorgeous work...stunnigly so
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Conversation Suicide
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10/21/2009 6:43:08 AM
Just giving HELLO, and Making Mischief some more listens, and digging your tunes...
It's a nice peaceful Rock/alternative break for my ears, juxtaposed with some blues, country, and METAL listening today.
Keep doing that Susan Raven thing you do, some of your tunes may prove to be timeless one day....
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The Man With No Band
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10/9/2009 11:46:36 AM
Just stopping by to say Hello old friends ... hope all is well in your corner of the world !
Peace
Sam
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Bryon Tosoff
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7/14/2009 4:23:25 PM
Susan,just listening to your songs..again really nice combination of instruments great vocals .very strong and well written lyrics, cool stories.well presented. your message is dynamic in many songs...good for you in discovering this gift and sharing
best now
bryon
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thebernreuter
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5/29/2009 4:01:50 AM
Have you ever been featured on NPR's "Echoes?" This sounds like "Echoes" stuff to me. Pretty awesome.
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Bryon Tosoff
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5/26/2009 6:06:49 PM
Hey Susan
hello again, just listening to Glittering cities and thought I tell you (again) what a great song this is....it sure is inspiring and uplifting, it has magic and elegance ,superb production, but really the value of this talent/gift rests in the sincerity of the artist reflecting their passion for life and the joy that lies within them, thus comes forth something of who they are. anyways keep making great music.
best
bryon
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John Myles
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5/14/2009 8:07:48 AM
Makin Mischief is one fine song and recalls all that I've ever loved about acoustic music, Thanx, JM
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Vincenzo Pandolfi
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3/14/2009 2:37:02 AM
Congratulations Susan,
You have 1, 3, 5 and 6 on the world genre charts!!
Well done,
Vincenzo
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