When I saw the track listing to Sarah Brightman's latest, Moon Chaser, I immediately was concerned about her tackling Sigur Ros' "Glosoli" and Sia's "Breathe Me." Although the former Mrs. Lloyd Webber has done decent versions of Dido's "Here with Me" and The Beloved's "Deliver Me," the childlike wonder that makes "Glosoli" special is lost here.
On "Breathe Me," her voice does not have the depth or despair to make this cover take off. Even the underwhelming climax has minimal impact as if it was recorded at zero gravity during a simulation for her upcoming space travel. The multi-platinum-selling siren does shine with the opening numbers "Angel" and an interpretation of Elbow's "One Day Like This." But even still, these could have been plucked from the sessions for her previous ventures LaLuna or Eden. Unfortunately, moonbeams, flower petals, candles and pixie dust cannot distract me from these mishaps.
Known for her live performances, the British soprano's tour was rescheduled to take place on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Akoo Theatre, 5400 N. River Rd., Rosemont. Brightman intends to be the first to record a song in outer space on her voyage.
IAMX continues to wow me. Whether it is the misfit anthem "President" or the cleverly shot the video for "My Secret Friend," where frontman Chris Corner and Imogen Heap swap gender roles, IAMX is well thought-out and equally well-executed.
The superb album The Unified Field finds Corner announcing on the title track, "Just because I don't care, it doesn't mean I don't feel. Just because I don't feel, it doesn't mean I don't understand. We are one in the unified field." The beat and groove complete this electronic masterpiece, which links him to his days with Sneaker Pimps. IAMX is not confined to electronica, as witnessed on the fantastic numbers "The Quiet Mind" and "Trials." "Land of Broken Promises" even branches out with country elements. The Unified Field is now available and IAMX comes to Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., on Thursday, May 2.
Brooklyn's Allison Weiss just released her sophomore album, Say What You Mean, which is a fun, youthful pop-rock effort. She comes across as if she were Michelle Branch or Avril Lavigne's loveable lesbian kid sister. "Nothing Left" is itching with licensing potential. "I Was an Island" has a catchy hook, as Weiss sings, "Baby, come back if you wanna be free." Not everything is a modernized take of The Runaways meets The Go-Go's, as "I'll Be Okay" is more stripped-down. Say What You Mean received funding through a Kickstarter campaign and is out now via No Sleep Records.
I fell smitten with Sarah Bettens when I heard her bass-driven song "Come over Here" on the LGBT compilation Revolutions: Music with a Twist. She reunites with her brother Gert as K's Choice for Echo Mountain, which was recorded in beautiful Asheville, N.C. This album boasts a tasty blend of timeless rock.
Bettens' raspy vocals are expressive, seductive and enchanting, as I cannot refuse her beckoning message, "Come on, come on, come live the life you're given" on "Come Live the Life." The way she tempts, "Come with me," on the titular track becomes a decision I really should make. "Killing Dragons" has a euphoric crescendo with guitar, piano and drums and "Along for the Ride" is simply flawless. Echo Mountain is out now and so is its companion EP Little Echoes that features "I Want to Get Lost," a much-needed jolt to any playlist. A Facebook post reveals that members of K's Choice are working on music for a documentary about fellow Belgians, polar explorers Dixie Dansercour and Sam Deltour.
When I saw Gliss in concert a few years ago, I was very impressed how the trio seamlessly traded instrument duties with each other between songs. While 2009's Devotion Implosion had a Brooklyn indie-rock vibe, the recent outing Langsom Dans finds Gliss blissed out at a '70s love festival. "A to B" has a great balance of male female vocals and "Weight of Love" is simply a slice of heaven. The band maintains its indie cred with the shoegazer goth track "Hunting." It is easy to imagine "Waves" being a showstopper, with its string arrangement. Langsom Dans is definitely worth a listen, with its remarkable artistic approach. Gliss is a band to see live if the opportunity comes. Unfortunately, no Chicago area dates are listed yet.
Army of Lovers regroups after a hiatus with the new single "Ridin' the Ride," which serves as an attempt to represent Sweden in this year's Eurovision Song Contest. The camp Swedish outfit resurfaces with additional new material "Crashing Down," "Tragedy" and "Signed on My Tattoo," a duet with Gravitonas. These are found on the new compilation Big Battle of Egos alongside a dozen previous singles like the notable "Crucified" and "Lit de Parade." The former is being serviced with 2013 remixes due in June. But do we need another hits package from Army of Lovers? I remember rushing out to get Les Greatest Hits in the mid-'90s to capture the lion's share of the group's most memorable moments from its four albums. Then 2001's Le Grand Docu-Soap featured a rehashing of hits on top of remixes and a lively take on "Let the Sun Shine In," which is included on Big Battle of Egos.
