INGRID CHAVEZ - MAY 19, 1992

Ingrid Chavez is an artist who typifies everything that was right about Paisley Park in the 80's and 90's.  Prince's vanity label was more than just a vehicle for him to release more music through.  It was often a place where artists with unique and interesting visions could find a home and create in a free environment.

She is, first and foremost, a poet.  She is secondly, an amazing speaker.  The transition to music with her spoken word poetry was an interesting if not unusual blend.  To this point, many people would consider rap to be the natural blend of these mediums.  But Chavez took it to a new plateau.  There's none of the rush, raw vitality of rap on this disc.  Instead, there's a monotone hushed voice expressing mature and complex sentiments.  The effect is hypnotic, mesmerizing and beautiful.

Prince's ability to write music and engineer sound was an ideal blend for Chavez's style.  The collaboration is one of the most complete and satisfying on the label.

The opening track, 'Heaven Must Be Near' is incredible.  It doesn't sound like a created piece of music as much as it sounds like a piece of music existing eternally in nature.  It simply found its way to this disc to appear.  The Clare Fisher Orchestra provide tantalizing strings and Prince's signature is all over the music.  This is the ultimate track and the ideal opener for the album.  It's followed by 'Hippy Blood'.  Although this song doesn't have any Prince input, it's still a solid effort.  Michael Koppelman; who was working as a recording engineer at Paisley Park, gets credit for providing the music to this number.  With its opening sitar setting the tone, this song moves into a more structured song style and showcases Chavez singing for the first time on the disc.  This song was also released as a single and many remixes are floating around including one by Prince.  'Candle Dance' is the next number and it's also co-written and produced by Michael Koppelman.   Although this song is much more reserved and subdued than the previous two tracks, it's still moody and you can hear a lot of emotion playing through the vocal delivery from Ingrid.

'Elephant Box' is the second single and second Prince composition to appear on the disc.  There's a scary circus organ playing followed by a soundbite taken directly from the bridge of the starship Enterprise.  And then the beat kicks in.  Yikes, you feel that?  That was your butt telling you to get up and move around.  That's right, while your brain is wrapping around the lyrics you're hearing the music forces you to groove right where you're standing.  "I'm living in the days of making dreams come true - so can you"....

'Slappy Dappy' is the next offering.  This track is also a Prince comp, but it doesn't quite hold up to the songs we've heard thus far.  The song itself is complex and interesting.  Some people would consider it a song about co-dependency.  I'm not sure I see it that way.  But it does border on it.  Not Prince's finest effort musically, but still interesting and enjoyable.  'Little Mama'...  It seems like every female artist during this time period was including songs about babies and being a mother.  It was a topic that was overplayed and often boring.  There was another Paisley Parker who did a similar song and I'll discuss it at some other time.  Michael Koppelman gets credit for this one.  I'm starting to pick up on some of this tells.  He uses metallic sounding bells as a favorite sound.

Next up is one of two songs that are more like soundscapes than actual songs.  'Jadestone' is the complete aural collaboration between these two visionaries.  Prince's stunning musical track accentuates the poetry recited by Ingrid.  Stunning example of what can be accomplished when music meets the spoken word.  Michael Koppelman shines again on the next two songs.  'Wintersong' is another beautiful composition lyrically and subdued musically.  A lovely combination of talent.  The next number is 'Spiritual Storm' which is nothing more than a musical segue between tracks.  It's the sole composition of Koppelman and I'm not sure why it's on this album considering it has no input from Chavez.  At least that I can ascertain.  It's followed by 'Sad Puppet Dance' which seems to flow directly out of it yet hit you with a solid beat.  Levi Seacer Jr., is the co-writer of this track and his talents are well known and well regarded among Prince fans.  He delivers a solid track with Ingrid once again performing sung vocal.

The final track is another poem with Prince providing musical background soundscapes.  Included are birdsong and the laughing bark of hyenas.  Very strange and yet oddly trance-like.

Ultimately, the collaboration between Prince, the various people surrounding him and Chavez delivered some promising fruit.  Material many Paisley followers wanted more of.  Ingrid went on to deliver some amazing music.  But it all started right here.  And the groundwork developed by Prince and his associates have shaped the sound and style of Chavez to this very day.  But at the same time, it's unique, different and appealing.  

My final words:  THIS IS WHY PAISLEY PARK WAS A REMARKABLE LABEL!  A FRESH OVERLOOKED SOUND THAT SURVIVES THE TEST OF TIME AND SOUNDS VITAL EVEN TODAY!

INGRID CHAVEZ - MAY 19, 1992
01. Heaven Must Be Near
02. Hippy Blood
03. Candle Dance
04. Elephant Box
05. Slappy Dappy
06. Little Mama
07. Jadestone
08. Wintersong
09. Spiritual Storm 
10. Sad Puppet Dance
11. Whispering Dandelions

INGRID + MARCO - INGRID + MARCO

This little Christmas EP was issued by Ingrid Chavez via her website this month. She describes her cover of 'Frosty' as a song, "...in minor key heaven, in Tim Burton style...". I think that's a bit excessive. It's an interesting cover, but nothing worth writing home about. I quite like the other two songs though. They're awesome. I still have a problem with Ingrid singing so much. Her first record was all about that interesting spoken poetry flow. It wasn't rap and it wasn't singing... It was something else entirely. Ingrid isn't the strongest vocalist. She doesn't have a strong range either. Her true talent lies in the unusual method she used for "May 19, 1992" back when she was on Paisley Park.

I'm still completely enthralled with her lyrics and the strangeness of the way she puts music together. But as a fan, I feel a little betrayed when she doesn't include music made in that interesting way. Her power is her speaking voice. As for this Marco... I can tell you exactly what's happening... He's constantly telling her to sing and trying to get her to move into a more traditional style of pop music. She totally needs to stop listening to him. And even though I like his music, he needs to give his ego a rest and let Ingrid fans enjoy Ingrid. Or put a band together; which I'm assuming Ingrid + Marco is... A new band name.

It's nice to have new material from her and I love it. I'm grateful to have it. I can't really suggest you not buy it because anything she puts out is worth owning. She is a true spirit poet. And her words can move mountains. Give it a try. My final words: A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY SURPRISE AND TREAT!

INGRID + MARCO - INGRID + MARCO
01. Frosty
02. Escapology
03. Black And Blue (Bonus Demo)

INGRID CHAVEZ - A FLUTTER AND SOME WORDS

This will be different in some ways. I'll be writing a review of an album I just got and am hearing for the first time.  Here's my initial impression... The most dramatic difference between this record and my other Ingrid cd is the amount of singing. It's a huge departure from her previous disc. Ingrid is probably most famous for the song she wrote for Madonna. She wasn't given a writing credit and later sued in court for compensation for her work. The song was 'Justify My Love'. This track is a typical representation of the kind of work Ingrid does. She recites her poetry over music. It's a unique sort of rapping. One I personally find beautiful. Her first album was amazing!

My exposure to Ingrid began when she appeared opposite Prince in the movie 'Graffiti Bridge'. She later released 'May 19, 1992' on Prince's Paisley Park label. It was genius material. And another example of how progressive and artistic a label Paisley Park could be. She failed to gain Top 40 recognition with her first effort, but I was hooked. I'm a sucker for poetry and she's an incredible poet. She's beautiful with words.

This disc is completely different from 'May 19, 1992' in other ways as well. While her freshman effort focused on love and other popular sentiments, this time she's distracted by other more esoteric concerns. There's a huge preoccupation with nature and weather. She celebrates the beauty of the natural world and how interconnected nature is with human life. The instrumentation is more subdued and lacks the heavy drum and bass sound of Prince. It feels more authentic and genuine.

I've really enjoyed everything I've heard so far. Thus far, my favorite tracks have been 'The First Darshan (Song For Ameera)', 'Back Roads', 'Tightrope' and 'By The Water'. Still, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out, the entire album is quite satisfying. As much as the first was. I'm even more committed to Ingrid now.

For those of you who know Ingrid's work, you'll look forward to hearing something new. You won't be disappointed. For those of you who don't... Check her out. It's worth the time and effort. My final word: ETHEREAL.

INGRID CHAVEZ - A FLUTTER AND SOME WORDS
01. Wing Of A Bird
02. Mine
03. Exhale
04. A Flutter And Some Words
05. The First Darphan (Song For Ameera)
06. Back Roads
07. By The Water
08. Path Of Rain
09. Returning To Seed
10. Tightrope
11. No Goodbyes
12. Terrible Woman
13. Isobel
14. A Flutter Coda