This is the latest CD (a much appreciated gift) for my collection, the Korean jazz vocalist Youn Sun Nah's "Voyage". I'm now looking forward to finding the right moment to relax on the sofa with the music streaming through headphones.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tH7bW1WUIk

And for a visual feast, watch their official video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QsGIDFTURaY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVLJkIZvFlo

Unfortunately she passed away just over a year ago but you can still find more info on her official site: http://lhasadesela.com/

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03MgUx9liJU

These are the lyrics for Anywhere On This Road:

I live in this country now
I'm called by this name
I speak this language
It's not quite the same
For no other reason
Than this it's my home
And the places I used to be far from are gone

You've travelled this long
You just have to go on
Don't even look back to see
How far you've come
Though your body is bending
Under the load
There is nowhere to stop
Anywhere on this road

My heart is breaking
I cannot sleep
I love a man
Who's afraid of me
He believes if he doesn't
Stand guard with a knife
I'll make him my slave
For the rest of his life

I love this hour
When the tide is just turning
There will be an end
To the longing and yearning
If I can stand up
To angels and men
I'll never get swallowed
In darkness again

You've travelled this long
You just have to go on
Don't even look back to see
How far you've come
Though your body is bending
Under the load
There is nowhere to stop
Anywhere on this road

In my eyes, these are modern-day classics. Either because of the special effects, the action or the soundtrack, I thoroughly enjoyed riding the thrills they generate. Even while slouched in the sofa, I could feel a rush of adrenaline course through my veins.

I was particularly pleased to recognize one of the tracks from Bourne Identity, Paul Oakenfold's, Ready Steady Go. I knew this music from another film, Collateral, with Tom Cruise, Jamie Foxx and Mark Ruffalo. Now that's a CD I recommend.

Back to the The Matrix and The Bourne Identity. I give them an equal score of 10/10.

Ancestors Call is their latest album. Listen to one of the tracks:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxcbOmQOSes

and watch them during a live performance earlier this year:

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdvCHMsO0iY&feature=related

If this music brought you moments of enjoyment, spread it round!

26 November 2010 and the soundtrack slips into the CD tray of my desktop computer, eager fingers turning up the volume control of the 5.1 surround sound speakers.

Let the aural pleasure commence!

Here's Christina Aguilera's song, Express.

Pink Martini take classic songs (Amado Mio, Brazil, Qué Sera Sera, to name a few) and rework them. To quote band leader Thomas Lauderdale, "My hope is that we’re creating exquisite musical wallpaper which can be turned up or down, and played on almost any occasion, from background music to a love affair to vacuuming around the house."

I'm writing this after only a first listening, but tracks Brazil and Amado Mio really hit my strings. On the other hand, Qué Sera Sera is a haunting piece in a negative sort of way. While it might qualify for the soundtrack of a horror movie, it doesn't fit in the easy listening style of the rest of the album. Equally haunting, but one you can listen to tranquilly while ensconced in bed under a quilt, is Lullaby.

Possibly Sympathique is the sort of CD that I will grow to like more and more but a rating  of 6/10 is a fair reflection of my initial reaction.

Listen to the track Amado Mio.