Vienna Teng-Inland Territory

Korean-American Vienna Teng still continues to weave wonderful tapestry of melodies in her latest offering Inland Territory under Zoe, Rounder records. The album is recorded over five months in four cities.

The Last Snow Fall opens with that sampled crackling sounds found in vinyl records. It is a gradual song embellish by oohs and ahhs amidst her sweet sounding voice.

White Light is an upbeat pop tune that comes to mind Vanessa Carlton's territory. The blues guitar works fine here along with the synthesizers. The lyrics deals  with the push and pull of relationships.

Antebellum is opened by piano flourishes. Her legato is excellent. When she hits that high tender note, it is so exquisite that it makes you really want to open your heart and seize the day. This is the style she has been known for, starting with her previous albums and this is her strong point. The orchestral sweep is cinematic and she can really belt out a tune considering that she is a pianist.

Kansas has that waltzing tempo set about by the cymbals. There is a lounge bluesy  feeling that predominates the entire song.

In Another Life Calls to mind that Mary Hopkins song in the 70s "Those Were the Days" with the snazzy brass ensemble and jaunty piano.

Grandmother Song is something totally new and different. Here she calls her live gang to perform the hand claps, the drums as well as the brass on the back up. You can hear people hooting throughout the entire song. You can tell that this has been recorded in a totally natural environment. The absence of her piano makes this song really different. But it works!

Stray Italian Greyhound is back to her territory of wonderful melodies and tinkling piano lines. Again, the introduction of the sweeping strings and walkabout tempo calls to mind those walks on the beach and lazy afternoons.

Augustine has that swirlling harmony of voices. The beat has that  anticipation to it before hitting the beautiful climax of the song as she sings "ooohhh breaking  down,". This is Vienna at her best.

No Gringo opens with a gentle tambourine. Solemn piano follows. Snare drums lead the verse into a breaking harmony . Again the presence of hand claps and orchestra makes the song a grand piece.

Watershed is a kind a gradual song that builds into an anthem.

Radio recaps Whitelight's upbeat spirit and the quirky atmosphere of Grandmother Song. Again the abundance of  syncopated and poly rhythm makes it a slightly uneasy on the end.

St. Stephen's Cross closes this album.Again it's a nice slow tune . Something that you bring along when you walk in the park.

  Vienna Teng has the versatility that can match Tori Amos' piano playing and a heavenly voice of Sarah Mclachlan. Fans and new ears will most like buy this album for it's overall chill out effect. But for those who appreciate beautiful music in terms of skill and artistry, this is also something for you. Though I'd say her previous efforts are those I gravitate more on, but hey nothing is wrong with an artist evolving and going on to new territories right?

Two Suns by Bat for Lashes

Original Release Date: April 7, 2009
Indie,Pop,Alternative,Rock


  The first thing that came to mind when I saw her was: OMG she looks like Lily Allen. Natasha Khan who’s project is Bat for lashes creates amazing atmospheric music in the vein of Kate Bush and Clannad. I chanced upon her through you tube. She's wearing this 80's 'Footloose' getup haunted by men-shaped shadows.   That video Daniel made me want to learn about the album more.  The cover reminds me of Vegas for some reason.


Two Suns opens with Glass. A gradual sound that moves into a climax of tribal beats. This is where the Kate Bush reference comes up. Acoustic and synthesizers merge to create an ethnic and ethereal feel; highlighted by her heavenly wails. 


Sleep Alone has that reggae meets early Goth feel. When she sings "Lonely, Lonely..." Occasional choral  aaahhhs' embellish the tune with a suspense cinematic flavor.


Moon and Moon has that haunting resemblance to the intro to 10,000 Maniacs' Because the Night only that this is gradual and fluid. Again there's that backing vocals that sounds to me like Philip Glass meets the Beach Boys. There's also hints of operatic soprano doing a vocalise. But it's a brief song.


Daniel has a strong 80s feel. From what I've read it's a tribute to Ralph Macchio's Character in Karate Kid. Just watch the video and you will see the strong reference that I am talking about. Somehow it reminds me of "Running Up the Hill" by Kate Bush only that Natasha's vocals are gentler and more Moya Brennan. The synths are what you will expect in such eighties arrangements . There's also strong pizzicato that calls to mind Enya's style of composition. 


Peace of Mind is something that never sticks with me. The odd scale makes it uneasy . The gospel type choral singing sounds off on this one. I don't know, it's just me I guess.


Siren Song gives back the moment taken by the previous song, with the beautiful floral flourishes of the piano . The 'easy' listening is however trampled by the disturbing chorus that sounds more Diamanda Galas ...


Pearl's Dream opens with a downbeat . "There's a place I must go, There's a place I must go" She sings in the opening track. This is the kind you would listen to on a late night run. Again it almost gets you to that pinnacle of listening experience but somehow it is off.


Good Love opens with a 'funebre' synth style that is more 60's horror film sounding . Again so far this does not topple the standard set by "Daniel'. But what she lacks for musical consistency she compliments through her hypnotic narrative. "The house set fire to my heart.." Awesome.


Two Suns opens with a poetry but I forgot by whom. Anyway, again there's that poly-rhythm and ethnic feel. 


Travelling Woman has tempo akin to most songs present in Natalie Merchant's debut Tiger Lily. Again the melody is off. For some reason I suspect that Natasha Khan hates to sound sweet. 


Big Sleep is perhaps intended to be a lullaby. But that male vocal sounds like a disturbing attempt to sound Broadway. You don't want to listen to this on you way to sleep.


Overall, I still think that two Suns is a rewarding experience if your expectations are met. Her voice is superb and I think I prefer her's than Kate Bush. But unlike Kate Bush, Enya and Liz Fraser who carved the road behind them, Ms Khan has to work hard to prove herself. Otherwise she's just a second rate copy cat. 

The Beekeeper Artist: Tori Amos

Tori Amos is a gifted singer-songwriter who actually made an impression by banging away Mozart on the piano at an early age of three. Later on she studied music but was kicked out because she was heard playing Led Zeppelin on piano by ear. A controversial figure in the 90's she charmed us with songs like "Cornflake Girl', Silent All these Years and my personal fave Pretty Good Year from Under the Pink(1994). 


  She's back with Beekeeper, a collection of 20 original compositions which would entice as well us confuse fanatic ears.The first half of the album begins with our typical Tori songs like, Jamaica Inn, Barons of Suburbia and the hit Sleeps with Butterflies.The second half is not what you typically hear from her especially with tracks like Witness, Hoochie Woman and Ireland. I still like this(my neice Jen is now a convert of her music), a follow up to the successful Scarlet's Walk, though if you were looking for typical Tori then grab Little Earthquakes, Under The Pink and Choirgirl Hotel instead.

So far...The Best Of. Artist: Sinead O'Connor

I heard the name Sinead O'Connor in 1990 with the #1 hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U".At that time I was discovering talents from Ireland because of U2's Jushua Tree album .Sinead has a voice of an angel that evokes the misty irish countryside.At times she adds a punch to it that reminds me of a Banshee's wailing despair.

   My niece was keen on saying (after I let her listen to Never Get Old from The Lion and the Cobra), It's like Enya only bigger and louder.Surprisingly the track also features Enya narrating a passage from the Psalms in Gaelic. No, she did not do any musical contribution except her spoken voice.The sad thing is that the said track is not included in this compilation.Bummer! 

  Sinead can be on extreme sides both politically and musically. All these facets are reflected in this Best Of compilation ,all 15 tracks of the most beautifully haunting songs in pop/rock world. Personal faves include Mandinka,The Emperor's New Clothes, Fire on Babylon,Troy, and You Made me the Thief of Your Heart which became the theme for the movie In The Name of the Father starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Nothing Compaires 2 U, has been a so-so in my book of list because I am never a Prince fan (he composed the song)and it was too popular at that time . Not until now , after exploring the track that I am able to really appreciate it. The 7th track "I Am Stretched On Your Grave" is a traditional irish track covered by so many artists already including Dead Can Dance. Sinead added her own Gregorian meets-Trent Reznor touch to the song giving it an upbeat and eerie quality which would be highlighted if you listen to it through your ipod while trekking a graveyard at 12 o'clock midnight-I miss this stuff!

From the 80s : Tinderbox by Siouxsie and the Banshees

Tinderbox:Siouxsie and the Banshees. Any goth kid from the 80's have this album. It's a must for genre collector. Siouxsie Sioux fueled a lot of controversies during her time because of her fashion sense. According to my friend Karen, she taught goth girls and boys how to wear their make up properly. Cities in Dust is one of the tracks in this nice album.

tracklisting:

1. "Candyman"
2. "The Sweetest Chill"
3. "This Unrest"
4. "Cities in Dust"
5. "Cannons"
6. "Party's Fall"
7. "92°"
8. "Land's End"

You can get a copy of Tinderbox here.