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This is a somewhat different entry. I'm writing about Juno Reactor's 'Luciana' disc; which is mainly one long track. This composition isn't so much a song as an alien landscape created to cause the listener to have an emotional response. In a way, it's similar to the type of music I reviewed earlier by Vince Clarke and Martyn Ware. The difference is where Clarke & Ware try to add different dimension to music by creating multi-spatial landscapes, 'Luciana' simply creates an environment. Its focus isn't the melody or musical element, but rather the sound. Ben Watkins, the main songwriter for Juno Reactor, did this again on a smaller scale with the track 'Shark' from 'Bible Of Dreams'. You could listen to this track a literally feel like a predator floating on the bottom of the ocean floor, hunting for food. It's really extreme.
Where this track loses it's appeal is the length. It's just too long. That being said, when you play it in the background without focusing, it can pass rather quickly. Anyway you choose to play it, this song is an investment of time. Be prepared and be ready to involve yourself in what's going on.
Ben used to write on Juno Reactor cds... "Imagination, use it as a weapon". If his intention is to make people use their imaginations, I'd say he's doing an excellent job. Buy it if you're into ambient sound, or if you're a die-hard Reactor fan. It's not for the mainstream market. My final word: SPACEY.
JUNO REACTOR - LUCIANA
01. Luciana
For some reason, when I read the title of Wendy & Lisa's new disc I thought of Harry Potter. It made me think of Diagon Alley.
I felt a certain apprehension buying this disc. Lisa & Wendy have a way with music that causes an emotional response in me. You watch movies like "Lord Of The Rings" and see some tragic or triumphant part... All of a sudden, you're crying. Their music has done this to me many times. I lack words to describe why I love these women. Why I care about them, so instead I'll share my impressions of the disc I'm listening to.
Lisa isn't known for contributing lead vocals very often so it's nice to hear her singing more. The blend is more evenly split on this disc and rather soothing. The first time I heard 'Balloon' I thought the music was brilliant, but I wasn't sure about the lyrics. I'm still that way now. Individual lines invoke different ideas. They're deep and meaningful, yet leave me breathless; especially the line "We are only temporary". In the context of a relationship, this a painfully sad notion. 'Invisible' comes across as the ultimate self-esteem song. If you've ever been dumped by someone, this song describes rediscovering your worth despite the horrors of losing that love. I read somewhere online the song is about Prince. That's probably true though I can't imagine they spend much time thinking about him nowadays. 'Ever After' is the track I think is most personal to the duo. For me, it reminds me of a lost friend. A very specific person. No matter how far apart our lives have grown, I still feel an overwhelming love for him. I wonder how he is, what he's doing... Sometimes I search for him online even though I know now is not the right time to have him in my life.
'Salt & Cherries (MC5)' is one of my favorite tracks. Amazing energy, progression and build. 'Niagra Falls' makes me think of childhood. How everything looked so big when I was little and now seems smaller. This shift in perspective is a scary thing. 'Red Bike' makes me think of people who inspire me through their presence. Who they are touches and motivates those around them.
'You And I'... Wow. Such a sad song. It reminds me of that last year with my ex. "You and I running out of time"... It was such a slow death to love. And yet it happened overnight. 'White Flags Of Winter Chimneys' expresses a desire to surrender to someone. There is someone I think about when I hear this song. I see him more clearly than anyone else in my life. To me, he is the chill breath, the sparkling pristine clean of cold. He is clarity. Winter. 'Beginning At The End' is another song about my ex. When we started, he loved me but I didn't love him. I fell in love with him while he was falling out of love with me. "I had just arrived in time to see you leave"...
The internet download included four additional tracks. They're all enjoyable despite my initial fears of suddenly finding a piece of work I wouldn't like by these wonderful women, I instead find myself rededicated. Devotion leaves you in a vulnerable position. No matter how much I want to give a fair and unbiased review, the fact is I find the mindset simply too compatible to my own. They make sense to me like no other artist. Do yourself a favor and buy this disc. My final words: INSTANT CLASSIC.
WENDY & LISA - WHITE FLAGS OF WINTER CHIMNEYS
01. Balloon
02. Invisible
03. Ever After
04. Salt & Cherries (MC5)
05. Niagra Falls
06. Red Bike
07. You And I
08. White Flags Of Winter Chimneys
09. Beginning At The End
10. Niagra Falls (Demo)
11. The Dream (Demo)
12. Viste (Demo)
13. Waiting For Coffee
Even though Earth, Wind & Fire are a famous band from the 70s, I've never really listened to them. I certainly have some affection for 70s funk bands, but this one never caught my attention. My main reason for picking up this disc is of course my obsessive pursuit of Prince songs. He contributed one track to this album. I later learned 'Super Hero' was actually used by The Steeles on the "Blankman" soundtrack. I believe this track is therefore considered a cover. At the time I was under the impression it was the only existing recording of the song. In comparison, this is the superior cut of the two versions. It's a sparse arrangement whereas The Steeles' version seems overproduced and cluttered.
I'd like to say this disc inspired me to buy more Earth, Wind & Fire material, but the exact opposite is true. I find the album tedious in a generic way. There's nothing that really stands out and grabs me. I find certain tracks somewhat interesting, but they're hardly worth the price. I keep reading about Maurice White and how important a producer/songwriter he is; yet if this work is any indication of his ability, I'm left wondering what the attraction is. Maybe is a generational thing. I'm too young to appreciate what's happening here. But my overall impression is extremely strong. I feel like I'm listening to a band that hit its stride and is now churning out retired music.
There seems to be a list of well known, respected songwriters working here to create a hit record, but the collection falls short and for the most part lacks strong efforts by various names like Philip Bailey, Frankie Blue, But Bacharach, Michael and Linda Stokes... The packaging promised something iconic, but the contents fail to deliver.
You expect something groundbreaking or more representative of the band's history and hits. What you get is bland, run of the mill pop. 'Super Hero' is the singular exception here. It's one of Prince's better tunes from the early 90s. I think Prince would have done the band a big favor by donating more tunes to this lackluster project and punching it up a couple notches. With dismal track after track of throwaway tunes, 'Millennium' needs a vital infusion of contemporary funk.
Of course these days you can download the single track and avoid the filler material entirely. I recommend saving the money unless you find it used for a couple bucks. 'Super Hero' is at least worth that. My final words: MILLENNIAL BOMB.
EARTH, WIND & FIRE - MILLENNIUM
01. Even If You Wonder
02. Sunday Morning
03. Blood Brothers
04. Kalimba Interlude
05. Spend The Night
06. Divine
07. Two Hearts
08. Honor The Magic
09. Love Is The Greatest Story
10. The "L" Word
11. Just Another Lonely Night
12. Super Hero
13. Wouldn't Change A Thing About You
14. Love Across The Wire
15. Chicago (Chi-Town) Blues
16. Kalimba Blues
This is a disc I bought because Prince wrote a song for her. However, I didn't know the song existed until the early 90s when I was living in Europe. Fortunately, I found the disc at a shop in Olten, Switzerland. I'm also a fan of Jam & Lewis. Flyte Tyme Productions is one of my favorite production houses. I've loved the work they've done with Janet Jackson and others.
The disc starts off relatively nicely. The first two tracks are fun, though not exactly groundbreaking in any way. They were typical pop fare for the time period. In fact they sound like something from the "Pretty Woman" soundtrack. The Prince track segues from the second song. It kicks in with a strange, off balance beat that somehow manages to make you wanna start moving around and waving your hands. 'Baby Go-Go' makes me wanna go-go.
The next two tracks are the Flyte Tyme numbers. The first, 'Rhythm Of Change' is written by Spencer Bernard and features a standard collection of Flyte Tyme musicians playing in the background. The tune itself isn't all that exciting, but it has a strong beat reminiscent of Janet Jackson's 'Black Cat'. 'Why Should I Cry?' is more standard Flyte Tyme and features a melodic hook. My only complaint is the echo on Hendryx's voice. It really distracts from the lyrics. Still, it's an awesome number and excellent turn out from them.
The remaining tracks are pretty common sounding and none of them stand out in any form. They're typical filler material from the time. But when you consider this cd as a record, virtually one whole side is worth hearing while the second is fluff bits. 50% isn't a bad percentage when you're talking about a full album. Hendryx has a powerful voice and she's not afraid to use it. She's a bold sounding artist. Her political messages all over the album liner notes are impossible to ignore and obsolete today, but they don't distract from the musical value. There's more than one reason to check this disc out. Worth the effort. My final word: DECENT.
NONA HENDRYX - FEMALE TROUBLE
01. I Know What You Need (Pygmy's Confession)
02. Big Fun
03. Baby Go-Go
04. Rhythm Of Change
05. Why Should I Cry?
06. Too Hot To Handle
07. Winds Of Change (Mandela To Mandela)
08. Female Trouble
09. Drive Me Wild
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I think this was the first essential Eurythmics cd of the 80s. The first release was rather lackluster and acoustic. This release was responsible for their first top 40 hit in the states. And it marked the beginning of a love affair with America that lasts to this very day.
Annie Lennox is an exciting vocalist. She's got amazing expression and Dave Stewart can write some off beat interesting songs that lend themselves perfectly to her style. They're an interesting duo. This is another one of those discs I can put in and listen to from start to finish. It's great all the way through. There's an intensity to the way Stewart composes music. The bass and rhythm section are usually fairly strong and drive the momentum of the song forward in a surprising way. When you couple it with Annie's expressively animated vocals, you come up with songs that seem more like scenes from a modern day musical. The stories are interesting and timely.
The opening track sets the darker tone for the album. Using a stranger with candy metaphor for love. It's a dangerous thing that can really mess you up if you're not careful. Both 'Wrap It Up' and 'I Could Give You (A Mirror)' are favs of mine. 'Sweet Dreams' is the chart topping hit, while 'This Is The House' infuses a latin flare to the duo's sound. The final track, 'This City Never Sleeps' is a mysterious and moody piece that effectively conveys the feeling of sleeping in a big city. It soothes and settles as well as unnerves. It's a complex piece and promises a diverse subject matter from future releases. In sum, this disc is an invitation to embrace and absorb the sound of a rising power in popular music. It's a classic 80s and Eurythmics album everyone should own. If you only buy one Eurythmics disc... This is the one. My final word: ESSENTIAL.
EURYTHMICS - SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)
01. Love Is A Stranger
02. I've Got An Angel
03. Wrap It Up
04. I Could Give You (A Mirror)
05. The Walk
06. Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)
07. Jennifer
08. This Is The House
09. Somebody Told Me
10. This City Never Sleeps
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
Although this is Me'shell's 1st album, it was the second I heard. Wendy & Lisa worked on her 2nd disc and after hearing it, I immediately went and picked up this one. And I wasn't disappointed.
I've always been drawn to offbeat artists. Though there were other artists who combine rap and singing, Me'shell does it in such a smooth way. This album is urban hip hop at its best. And yet at the same time it manages to be funky, soulful and accessible. Even casual listeners could embrace this unique sound.
Lyrically, the album is extremely challenging. Ranging from topics like racism, social inequality, drug abuse and love, Me'shell presents a view not popularized by television or mainstream media. She discusses the "White Man" not from the Hollywood comedic stand point; but rather a downtrodden American struggling to survive in urban society. She celebrates her ethnicity and various aspects of the social class she grew up in. If you ever wanted to relate to people in this situation, this album puts you right in the thick of it without resorting to emotional manipulation or other tactics. You just suddenly realize this is where it's at. You're sitting on a sidewalk, listening to music playing on the ghetto blaster and absorbing the world moving around you.
Almost every track is a classic. I just put the disc in and let it play through. There are one or two songs that really catch my attention as I listen. 'I'm Diggin' You' and 'If That's Your Boyfriend', are my favorites. But I'm just as happy with the rest of the disc. Me'shell is an artist of amazing talent! Even if hip hop isn't your bag, she's someone you should pay attention to. This is perhaps the only album she's done that can neatly fit into a genre category. Each new disc takes you in a different direction. She's unpredictable and interesting. My final word: FUNKY.
ME'SHELL NDEGEOCELLO - PLANTATION LULLABIES
01. Plantation Lullabies
02. I'm Diggin' You (Like An Old Soul Record)
03. If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)
04. Shoot'n Up And Gett'n High
05. Dred Loc
06. Untitled
07. Step Into The Projects
08. Soul On Ice
09. Call Me
10. Outside Your Door
11. Picture Show
12. Sweet Love
13. Two Lonely Hearts (On The Subway)
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