Album Review of Ellipse by Imogen Heap

So who is the female voice in the chorus of the new hit song "Whatcha Say?" by Jason Derulo? Well, it is none other than british songstress, Imogen Heap. I have enjoyed her work for a very long time now. She sticks to the electronica meets samples, meets beautiful vocals formula. First of all, the sample for the Jason Derulo song is from a song called "Hide and Seek", which is off of her album Speak for Yourself. So, check it out. I also reviewed and album called Details by Frou Frou, of which she is the voice. Now, onto her new album Ellipse. It is again, very true to her form. Lilting piano supports her vocals in a lovely song called "Half Life". The acoustic guitar of "Canvas" lifts you to a place of wonder as you hear her immense vocal arrangement take over the melody that is infectious. On "Tidal", she actually samples some sounds from a Nintendo Gameboy to dress up her up tempo movement of strength and beauty. She has a way of using everyday words and turning them to mean something wonderful, while producing imagery in your head while you listen. Somewhat haunting, "2-1" offers lyrics of questioning, talking about what's out there in space, in the universe. Meanwhile, she is always referring to something else, that is inner, deeper, giving life to the thought that our hearts are a universe of emotion. Fast paced track "Aha" gives her voice the opportunity to act as melody and rhythm. This album overall takes the cake, it is an amazing third offering from this artist who continues to challenge herself and move forward and upward when it comes to music, all the while maintaining the sound she has created. I would give this album six stars if I could, but five will have to suffice. In stores now, Ellipse is newly released. Enjoy.

Album Review of Details by Frou Frou

Details by Frou Frou

This album is amazing from beginning to end. It is an album of mostly electronica production that has the beautiful voice of Imogen Heap, layered in beauty with great lyrics about life and movement. It is one of my favorite albums of all-time and was produced in 2002 with the help of Guy Sigsworth, who, prior to this album was a producer for many artists at the level of Madonna. Though this album was the only one that Frou Frou did, which is the name they decided for the project, many fans would love to hear a second out of this duo who are simply phenomonal. The first track, Let Go, was used in many television shows and some movies, and has an inspiring, wonderful feeling to it that leads into the next four tracks, which seem to stay somewhat midtempo, but allow Imogen Heap's vocals to shine amazingly. By the time you've heard her weave her way through the english language, using metaphors that are simply thought provoking, they end the C.D. with a quiet ballad about music being the one thing that moves them both towards and away from things in life, and that it truly has the power to move all of us. That last track, "The Dumbing Down of Love" is one of the main reasons this album has been heard by yours truly hundreds of times, and I still haven't even began to get bored of it. So, if you like midtempo electronica with an amazing female voice to take this often sweet, emotional music to a new level, then you will love this album.
I give it the full five stars.