Track Listing

1. Allegretto
2. Shine
3. Fuego
4. Strange Paradise
5. Speed
6. Big Love Adagio
7. Kashmir
8. Gypsy Rhapsody
9. Libertango
10. Sahara
11. Ride
12. Space
13. Bond on Bond (James Bond Theme)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #22500 in Music
• Released on: 2002-11-04
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 58 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Bond is back. The all-girl string quartet which rocked the classical establishment back in 2000 has returned with a second album, Shine. Bond's first disc, Born, was famously banned from the classical charts--it was crossover alright, but crossed over a bit too much to still be considered a classical release. Shine, however, is unashamedly popular from start to finish. Don't be misled by the thick booklet—it's crammed, not with details of the14 tracks (three of which were written by the Bond girls), but with glossy shots of the pouting four alongside a couple of tigers and a gleaming motorbike and not a fiddle in sight.

In the space of two years, Bond has achieved phenomenal international success with healthy record and ticket sales throughout Europe as well as in the Far East, Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Shine reflects this with musical influences ranging from India to South America. But this is far from world music; every track has been so heavily produced that the string quartet sound is all but lost amid heavy beats and electronic effects. At its best, Shine is a dance album with a bit of a limp; at its worst it's pure Hooked on Classics. --Rebecca Agnew

CD Description
Second album by all-female crossover string quartet who so enraged the classical establishment with the release of their 2000 debut 'Born'. Maintaining the worldbeat fusion sound of that album, on 'Shine' they play pieces by Borodin, Albinoni and Piazzolla as well as a cover of Led Zeppelin's 'Kashmir' and, fittingly, a version of Monty Norman's 'James Bond' theme.

Customer Reviews

personal prefferance
I first heard a couple of tracks on the radio and was impressed with the modern way the music was put together using classical instruments.There is a couple of tracks that have a beat which makes the bond instruments sound as if they are backing a electronic drum machine,I cannot fault what is played with the violins/viola/cello but if I could change anything I would loose the beat machine or move the microphone nearer the classical sound.

Where was the passion?
I hate to say this as I was one of the first people to write an extremely favourable review of their first album, but Shine, didn't!

The music and artistic quality is of course above exceptional, but the tracks are not as appealing as Born proved they could do.
Whereas Born had the excellent Victory, Shine has nothing to even compare. A couple of the tracks are slightly "toe-tapping" and while all are wonderful to listen to, there are perhaps only two tunes which immediately stood out: Strange Paradise and Bond on Bond. The latter being a reworking of the classic James Bond theme.

I know that Bond were severely and unfairly penalised by the classic charts because they weren't recognised as classical and weren't exactly pop, but at least with Born the music was powerful and made an impact. With shine, the music is pure easy listening, "I'll put you on in the background but not really going to listen to". Which is a shame and a total waste.

Bond are 4 of the best classical musicians at the moment, but alas this album is mediocre. Perhaps we were spoilt by Born, but I was hoping for a lot more, and sadly it failed to deliver.

Superb encore
Better than 'Born'. The quartet have reached new heights. The music will not appeal to everyone but it appeals to me. This album would be a good match to 'Bombay Jazz Palace' the music has the same mystical east undercurrents. Gone are the 'Hooked on Classics' mixes in are sitars and bongos.
I was quite hesitant at giving the album a full 5 Stars as I normally reserve that for Albums that have stood the test of time, but this is definitely a good one.