2009 is shaping up to be quite a year for music aficionados. Amidst all the cacophony of sounds and all the pre-fabricated Top40 mumbo jumbo being released, there is hope for some badass and modish música con conciencia. Four years after releasing her sophomore and breakthrough album “Speak For Yourself”, Brit chanteuse Imogen Heap returns with her trip-hop indie electronica unique style, taking off where she left off. On “Ellipse”, Imogen Heap employs a formula similar to that of her previous album: airy lyrics, vocoder heavy songs, haunting music, layers, dreamy atmospheric electronica, as well as daring vocal acrobatics. While it may be similar, the final product is not by any means the same… if anything its way better. For once, you can listen to a full Imogen Heap album without skipping tracks, falling asleep, or picturing unicorns throwing up rainbows, as it usually happens while listening to Enya or any other new age snooze fest.
“Ellipse” is Imogen Heap’s effort to take her music to the next level and commercialize her style a tad without compromising her unique sound, and for the most part she succeeds. However, there’s still room for improvement if that’s the route she’s looking to take.
The production and artistry behind “Ellipse” make Imogen Heap one artiste to watch for. Her pitch-perfect beautiful vocals, the twists of electro, the instrumental breakdowns, and her take on electronica make this otherwise boring yet contemporary album have quite an edge to it.
Overall, this is an enjoyable album to listen to while you’re chillin after a long stressful day at work and/ or school. It definitely comes in handy while taking a nice bubble bath and sipping champagne.
No puede faltar en tu colección if you love trip-hop, easy breasy electronica, ambient, and music that keeps you from having nervous breakdowns… Imogen Heap’s “Ellipse” is almost as good as therapy.
Ellipse Outstanding Traxx: Aha!, Earth, Half Life, First Train Home, Wait It Out, Between The Sheets, Tidal, The Fire.
