| Name: | Danilo |
| Location: | Italy |
| Date: | Thursday, December 20, 2001 at 15:04:33 |
| Comments: | Thank you very much, Virginia for your beautiful music! |
|
|
|
| Name: | steve harvey |
| Location: | Hertfordshire |
| Date: | Sunday, December 16, 2001 at 12:48:25 |
| Comments: | Along with the Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance, Virginia Astley has produced the most hauntingly beautiful music ever. I notice that a few people in this section have been asking for copies of "Hope In A Darkened Heart". I have a CD version of this which I am prepared to copy for anyone. Also, is anyone interested in hearing the "Tree Top Club" demo and Ravishing Beauties Peel Session from 1982? Just send me a message.... |
|
|
|
| Name: | davidB |
| Location: | Leeds UK |
| Date: | Monday, September 24, 2001 at 22:44:47 |
| Comments: | An excellent beautiful web site! Gave up hoping anyone would put together a resource, and then stumbled across this site by chance this evening. An hour later...... 'Darkness.. ' is one of my favourite pieces of music by anyone..... I think only a couple of Cocteau Twins or Harold Budd tracks can match it for emotional response. I bought the vinyl of πHope... when it came out, and bought πGardens... on import. A couple of years ago I saw a CD copy of πHope... π in Polar Bear Leeds and was stupid enough not to buy it (I was dropped on my head as a child!) Next time! Thanks for the music and the site. db. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Steve Allan |
| Date: | Monday, August 20, 2001 at 08:44:03 |
| Comments: | The website is great! My friend Kevin has the only CD copy of Hope in a Darkened Heart that I've ever seen. I've tried to nick it several times, but he always catches me at it. Maybe one day I'll be able to find one of my own... |
|
|
|
| Name: | Graham |
| Location: | Ireland |
| Date: | Sunday, August 12, 2001 at 18:05:36 |
| Comments: | Great website and keep up the good work. Only recently discovered Virginia's music and look forward to the forthcoming re-issue of From Gardens Where We Feel Secure. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Rob Brown |
| Location: | Colchester |
| Date: | Sunday, June 24, 2001 at 12:36:09 |
| Comments: | The ever wonderful Martin Stephenson (along with his Toe Rags)were playing up the road in Manningtree last night and a splendid show they gave too.Martin started off with a short solo set,which included the old classic favourite, "Rain".The Toe Rags really rocked their way through their set,which included the Daintees classic,"Coleen".Midset,Martin was alone with his guitar again for a beautiful rendition of the Leonard Cohen song,"Suzanne",a song in the past that Martin has dueted with Virginia on.After the performance,I had a 10 minute chat with Martin,about his work with Virginia, of course.Martin is great fan of Virginias and always loves to chat with her fans,so try to catch Martin in concert.He is a very friendly,down to earth guy,both on and off stage. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Jose Joaquin Esquivel Sarmiento |
| Location: | manila, philippines |
| Date: | Monday, May 28, 2001 at 14:16:58 |
| Comments: | i only have HOPE IN A DARKENED HEART (it's far too difficult to get copies of VA in the philippines) but it's enough reason to love virginia astley's music. like young marble giants, she is among the most unique musical artists of my generation. love this site! it's really appropriate for VA. thanks to all the people behind this site! |
|
|
|
| Name: | mkh |
| Date: | Saturday, May 19, 2001 at 21:03:22 |
| Comments: | Remember hearing Ravishing Beauties on John Water's Saturday programme on Radio 1 in the early '80s. Bought 'From Gardens...' and 'Remember Nothing', but had to sell 'em (along with rest of record collection) to help pay off expensive relationship settlement! Only just again able to start rebuilding collection. Had no idea Virginia had become such a cult artist, but glad that her work exists on CD, even if import from Japan. Amazing website; best music site I've seen yet. I'm finding that the more obscure the artist I'm trying to rediscover, the better the websites! |
|
|
|
| Name: | Mark |
| Location: | Auckland NZ |
| Date: | Sunday, May 6, 2001 at 09:39:16 |
| Comments: | Only when I was moving house recently did I come across 2 albums from another life time. I was again reminded of a time when 'Hope...' and 'Gardens...' spoke to me in a way that can never be again. Living in Goring at the time, and going to church at Stoke in a never ending summer (1984 thru 87) and then coming across Virgina's work that spoke to me of the life I was living. Now I'll enjoy the work on another level. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Rob |
| Location: | Colchester |
| Date: | Thursday, April 26, 2001 at 13:52:51 |
| Comments: | Unbelievably(well,almost),this coming December will mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of The Ravishing Beauties! With reunions all the rage these days,wouldnt it be brilliant if Virginia,Kate and Nicky could reunite for a special anniversary tour? |
|
|
|
| Name: | Chris |
| Location: | Scotland (Ex Poole) |
| Date: | Monday, April 16, 2001 at 11:28:47 |
| Comments: | Brilliant Site - Have been searching for years for information on the RBs having seen them support Teardrop Explodes - (Poole Art Centre). Can always remember the haunting sounds of "Artic Death" - now I have more of RBs and VA sounds available. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Mo |
| Date: | Saturday, April 7, 2001 at 12:07:17 |
| Comments: | This is far and away the best artist's website I have ever visited. The discography detail is amazing (showing reissues,different versions,adverts,notes etc etc etc). A collectors dream come true! For once I am relieved there are so few releases otherwise I'd lose the whole weekend. I'll be saluting you this evening on TV Mr Webmaster - you're a toff! |
|
|
|
| Name: | Rob |
| Location: | Colchester |
| Date: | Friday, April 6, 2001 at 17:20:01 |
| Comments: | Anyone(remotely)interested in seeing what this sites webmaster looks like,ie Mr Paul Browne esq,should tune into Channel 4(uk tv)tomorrow evening(Saturday) at 9.00pm.In this weeks edition of "Top Ten"(80s pop pioneers), Paul should(unless he has been totally edited out!)be seen being interviewed about ......er OMD. Well,originally it was supposed to be about Virginia,but then someone offered him a drink and the rest,as they say,is history. OMD,I mean, I ask you? |
|
|
|
| Name: | OddMan |
| Homepage: | Nope! |
| Location: | Norway |
| Date: | Thursday, April 5, 2001 at 12:41:25 |
| Comments: | Well, I was just listening to one of my old MP3 here the other day and stumpled across an all time favorite, Some Small Hope, in duo with David Sylvian (Sakamoto?!). RESPECT! |
|
|
|
| Name: | glenn |
| Location: | near-Wash.,D.C./USA |
| Date: | Wednesday, April 4, 2001 at 21:43:41 |
| Comments: | Thank you for finally having a website devoted to VA -- the voice of an angel. I first came to know about Virginia through the track on the Some Bizarre compilation in 1987 and then the US release of Hope in a Darkened Heart. Only then did I find out that Virginia played on my favorite album of all time: Townshend's All the Best Cowboys Have Chinese Eyes so I've actually been a fan not knowing it a lot longer. If you need copies of Hope... on CD, I'd advise ebay as I've sold my spare copies of the disc for upwards of $35 -- I had the good sense to start buying them up used in the early 1990s. cheers,glenn |
|
|
|
| Name: | Richard |
| Location: | germany |
| Date: | Tuesday, April 3, 2001 at 19:12:52 |
| Comments: | When in London around 1985, I saw Virginia perform a live set at the St.James Church near Picadilly Circus with Martin Stephenson, Jocelyn Pook, Anne Stephenson and Audrey Riley. This was such a beautiful concert I will never forget and I love Virginia's music to this day. Thank you and all the best wishes for her and her family! |
|
|
|
| Name: | MARCOS |
| Location: | porto - portugal |
| Date: | Friday, March 23, 2001 at 03:15:44 |
| Comments: | Virginia, thanks for "From gardens... ", for your music! I became a dreamer (people say) leastning "Whith my eyes open i’m dreaming", and I’m here writing this few words with ..."Melt the snow". Well, just to ask you if you know where Portugal is, ’cause you have fans here too,... and if you make concerts, ’cause there are great places here to play, too! Well, thanks! I’m standing! |
|
|
|
| Name: | Rob |
| Location: | Colchester |
| Date: | Thursday, March 15, 2001 at 19:53:18 |
| Comments: | Well worth checking out is the excellent new album "Untold Things" by Jocelyn Pook.Combining World (the Middle East in this instance)Music with Contemporary Classical music (together with a dose of "Ambient" Styled arrangements),Jocelyn and friends( Anne Stephenson,Caroline Lavelle and Clare Finnimore should be familiar to you)have produced a fine collection of soul stirring music.Impressive and quite beautiful. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Lu¨s Gonzaga Grego |
| Location: | Portugal |
| Date: | Tuesday, March 13, 2001 at 13:04:12 |
| Comments: | The best music and lyrics |
|
|
|
| Name: | jiji |
| Homepage: | http://jiji-tree.hoops.ne.jp/top |
| Location: | Japan |
| Date: | Saturday, March 10, 2001 at 18:36:38 |
| Comments: | I love her music and voice. It makes me relaxed. This website is nice. I would like to come again. I would like to know her latest news. |
|
|
|
| Name: | john Calvert |
| Location: | Manchester |
| Date: | Monday, March 5, 2001 at 13:05:09 |
| Comments: | I was delighted to discoer a website devoted to one of my very favourite female artists. Her pure and beautiful music have been cruelly neglected for far too long |
|
|
|
| Name: | Robert |
| Location: | Vancouver, Canada |
| Date: | Friday, March 2, 2001 at 08:37:01 |
| Comments: | A wonderful site for a wonderful performer. I shall never forget the impact of listening to From Gardens for the first time so many years ago...a dreamy summer evening in the English countryside made real for me here in Vancouver by her record. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Rob |
| Location: | Colchester |
| Date: | Friday, February 16, 2001 at 11:43:06 |
| Comments: | Hi Brant! Nice message. Personally,I cant ever see "Promise Nothing" ever coming out on cd. Virginia was never over enthusiastic with its original vinyl release,and coupled with the fact that it only runs for just over half an hour, it would hardly be value for money.Perhaps a much better idea would be for a more up to date compilation, gathering together those deleted Elektra b-sides and perhaps having all the material re-mixed and re-mastered by her brother Jon Astley,who specialises in this field? |
|
|
|
| Name: | Brant Nelson |
| Location: | Pasadena, CA |
| Date: | Friday, February 16, 2001 at 03:38:14 |
| Comments: | Those of you looking for VA rarities would do well to check Ebay. I have seen several copies of A Bao A Qu, many copies of Hope In A Darkened Heart (although those Japanese versions with the extra song go for up to $25), and even a copy of the Le Song single once. My biggest hopes: Promise Nothing on CD, actually hearing Le Song someday, getting all the various collaboration tracks. Does anyone know where I can get the Jocelyn Pook EP? I tried ordering it from One Little Indian a few years ago and they said it was no longer available. The website's great! Thanks for creating it! Brant |
|
|
|
| Name: | Liz |
| Location: | Devon |
| Date: | Sunday, February 11, 2001 at 18:07:38 |
| Comments: | Nice Website. My dear friend Robert Brown introduced me to Virginia's music, and I love it. Keep up the good work |
|
|
|
| Name: | Kev P |
| Location: | UK |
| Date: | Wednesday, February 7, 2001 at 19:22:58 |
| Comments: | Great to see the website going strong. I've just got Virginia's two most recent albums and they are as wonderful as ever. I'd love to see Virginia play a live set, there are so many people into the music on labels like Jeepster and Shinkansen, the likes of Gentles Waves / Belle & Seb / Trembling Blue Stars who would immediately warm to her music. Play a Saturday afternoon slot at ROTA in Notting Hill Virginia! |
|
|
|
| Name: | Rob |
| Location: | Colchester |
| Date: | Sunday, February 4, 2001 at 09:51:12 |
| Comments: | Anyone with a pulse are well recommended to check out the Jocelyn Pook String Quartet on their current tour.With a very imaginative usage of taped voices, on screen conversations,lighting effects which silhoutte the group performing(both live and on film. And all with live/taped performances of some brand new beautifully composed compositions from Jocelyn, these are shows not to be missed. See news section for details or you can email me for further details of the shows contents. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Dany |
| Location: | ITALY |
| Date: | Wednesday, January 31, 2001 at 09:26:23 |
| Comments: | Great site! I'm waiting for new photos.....I offer the following CD's on Rosebud label: "From gardens where we feel secure", "All shall be well", "Had I the heavens". I've also one copy of "Hope in a darkened heart" LP in M-/M- conditions. Ciao. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Marlin Dobbs |
| Location: | Los Angeles, California |
| Date: | Saturday, January 27, 2001 at 07:14:24 |
| Comments: | A great site for a wonderful artist! Keep up the good work... I'm already looking forward to a "collaborations" section. Her song "Second Chance" on the Lily Was Here soundtrack is the highlight of that album! I can't wait to find out what else this amazing talent has done... |
|
|
|
| Name: | Paul Browne |
| Date: | Thursday, January 25, 2001 at 17:20:50 |
| Comments: | Can I please ask that if anyone has any queries or issues with the administration of this website and its contents that they direct them via email to pbrowne@virginiaastley.com. Please do not post them in the Guestbook. Many thanks. |
|
|
|
| Name: | tim v |
| Location: | florida, USA |
| Date: | Tuesday, January 23, 2001 at 03:24:49 |
| Comments: | Looking for reasonably priced CDs of "Hope In a Darkened Heart" and "From Fields Where We Feel Secure". Used cd okay if in good shape. Info on good european cd sites to find these ok, too. THANKS! |
|
|
|
| Name: | Felicia |
| Location: | Staines, Middx |
| Date: | Monday, January 22, 2001 at 20:12:31 |
| Comments: | At last the site is here! Come on Virginia, we want a follow-up to 'Heavens' - you're always keeping us waiting, but it's always worth it! Regards, F |
|
|
|
| Name: | Rob Brown |
| Date: | Monday, January 22, 2001 at 08:22:12 |
| Comments: | Two further web sites that are always worth visiting are www.netsounds.com and www.gemm.com Search "Virginia Astley" and there is usually a list of various records etc. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Paul Browne |
| Homepage: | www.virginiaastley.com |
| Location: | London |
| Date: | Sunday, January 21, 2001 at 21:51:32 |
| Comments: | There's a copy of Hope on vinyl currently available at Vinyl Tap www.vinyltap.co.uk for £10. I'll look into options for getting more details on rarities available on the website. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Stuart Berryman |
| Location: | East Sussex |
| Date: | Sunday, January 21, 2001 at 21:24:40 |
| Comments: | Dear Philthy Phil You think you've had it rough! 12 years I've been looking for Hope In A Darkened Heart on ANY kind of format! I'd get on my hands and knees if someone would just TAPE it for me. Great site - worth the wait. |
|
|
|
| Name: | Dale Lloyd |
| Homepage: | http://overheard.homestead.com/overheard.html |
| Location: | Seattle |
| Date: | Sunday, January 21, 2001 at 02:21:33 |
| Comments: | Best wishes to Virginia and Florence! I hope the new millenium will bring much love, peace, and joy. May your beautiful creative spirit prosper and produce many more musical gems for all to enjoy. Fond regards, Dale |
|
|
|
| Name: | FILTHY PHIL |
| Location: | MANCHESTER |
| Date: | Sunday, January 21, 2001 at 01:22:54 |
| Comments: | BRILLIANT WEBSITE ! MORE PICTURES PLEASE ! CAN ANYONE HELP ME GET MY HANDS ON 'HOPE IN A DARKENED HEART' ON CD ? I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR 957 YEARS NOW ! |
|
|
|
| Name: | nanu |
| Location: | portugal |
| Date: | Sunday, January 21, 2001 at 01:02:20 |
| Comments: | Virginia congratulations! There's a lot of people in Portugal interested in your work. Long live your wonderful music. |
|
|
|