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| | Ellipse | | | Music Artist : | | Imogen Heap | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | RCA | | Release Date : | | 2009-08-25 | | Store Price : | | $11.98 | | Artistopia's Price: $10.99 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. First Train Home
2. Wait It Out
3. Earth
4. Little Bird
5. Swoon
6. Tidal
7. Between Sheets
8. 2 - 1
9. Bad Body Double
10. Aha!
11. The Fire
12. Canvas
13. Half Life
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 The Heap returns...
Submitted on: 2009-11-06 |
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It's been a long four year wait, as Imogen fans haven't had an album since 2005. I personally hate waiting for long periods of time for new CD releases; but I suppose I should cut Miss Heap some slack for that. After all, she manages everything: song-writing, compositions, album production, etc., when it comes to her music. She's better for it too, as most artists these days don't even bother to write their own material. So, I'll put the irritation of a four-year wait aside as it's better that there's quality rather than a terrible rushed release.
Ellipse is out now and in true Heap style, it sure has been prone to mixed impressions by music critics. Some are downright negative, stating that Heap layers too many instrumentals into her songs distracting from her vocals. On the flip-side, there are positive statements, which praise Heap's vocals and her instrumental arrangements.
Anyways,
Despite the conflict between critics, I ordered the CD a week or two after it was released. Since then I've allowed it to sink in for a couple of months. My conclusion: this is a worthy follow-up to Speak for Yourself. There's a reason Ellipse skyrocketed to #4 on the Canadian bestselling list and hit #1 on the US release charts. It is simply marvellous. I keep coming back to it to have a listen again and again. In many ways it's like the continuing saga of SFY. It doesn't sound the same; but it carries the Heap signature. The best way I can describe it is that it feels like Miss Heap has refined her style. Ellipse has the sound of an artist progressing and finding her niche. The compositions still tell a story, wrapped up in an album.
Imogen Heap stated that she didn't want to be making the same album twice; but rather for us to enjoy another style she brought to the table. This includes new themes. There's the fun "Bad Body Double," in which Heap refers to viewing ideal beauty vs. realistic aging. "Little Bird" muses about how life can be seen through different angles. On top of all this lyrics are catchy and engaging, as Heap sings at full power. "Temporal dead zone/ where clocks are barely breathing/ yet no one cares to notice for all their yammering on/ I clam up to hold it together" nicely contrasts the forceful, but soft, "What matters to you, it doesn't matter, matter to me" as Heap switches tones in the opener "First Train Home." It sees Heap waiting for a party to end as she's having a miserable time. Naturally she wants to go home and ironically it's a song that most of us can relate to after having a bad day. If you're having one of those, take a moment to listen to "First Train Home" and you'll find yourself nodding in agreement. I know I did. It's definitely one of the album highlights.
Elsewhere there's the relaxing instrumental "The Fire," with its piano interlude overlaid with crackling sounds. "Aha" is a somewhat creepy venture - with music that could match a Halloween production. But the vocals are sung in such a different style it sounds like two different songs in one. (It reminds me, oddly enough, of some of Bjork's songs, which can get that way.) "Swoon" is more of a fun interplay as Miss Heap dreams about securing the man that she's been crushing on. It has a dancing, if not somewhat eccentric, beat to it. So there are multiple rhythms to enjoy while you're listening.
Yet, with all of this, I haven't even gotten into the 4 highlights, aside from "First train Home," that make this album even more memorable. The first of these would be the ballad "Wait it Out." It happens to be incredibly emotional, revolving around a broken heart. "We're closed to the earth till further notice," she croons sadly, as she reminisces about the breakup. "Everybody says/that time heals everything/but what of the wretched hollow," the chorus begs the question. In fact, it's so hard not to get pulled into the song because Miss Heap sings is so powerfully that it commands recognition. "Tidal" is another such gem - it can be playful and serious simultaneously. The instrumentals switch it up quite a bit during the song, adding a thundering crescendo at the end with the lines "Do what you want/Just how you like/Nobody has to know." It's thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. Third on the list would be the second single "Canvas" which is lyrically ambiguous; but seems to be referring to the hardships of life. It's the instrumentals that really shine: if I didn't know the song was on an album, I'd think it were a soundtrack score. I know that seems a bit pretentious; but I have to be honest. Finally, there's the airy "2-1/Polyfilla" track. Imogen Heap seems to be singing into dead space at the beginning as instrumentals begin swirling around her voice. The song builds as it goes along, making it impressive. Some find this song a little too strange; but I think it's wonderfully composed and sung.
Rounding off all of this, if you have the Expanded Edition, is the Instrumental CD. It's basically all the songs without the vocals. So, if you want to listen to the background music alone, it makes for an interesting experience. One final note: it's best if you play the music, for the first time, with some sort of stereo system (like a CD boombox or ipod stereo holder). I find the addition of speakers allows the listener to hear the full effect of the songs. It's vastly different than listening to it through headphones.
Well, seeing as I've gone on a tad too long, I'll leave it at that. Ellipse will not disappoint and it's worth the wait. |
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 near masterpiece, but not what i was expecting
Submitted on: 2009-10-29 |
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| i was hoping for a continuation of Imogen's last disc. it had it all... great beats and angelic singing. Ellipse is many times more mellow than its direct predecessor, but is still very good. i enjoyed the music more on Speak for Yourself. i thought it was more upbeat, and i can listen to that disc at anytime regardless of what mood i am in. the music on this album is a bit more boring, but lets Imogen's voice stick out more... not a bad thing. however, i find myself only wanting to listen to Ellipse when trying to relax... also not a bad thing. but i have a feeling that listening to it in the car would put me to sleep at the wheel. not because it is boring, but just because it has such a soft sound, like a lullaby. |
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It grows on you quickly
Submitted on: 2009-10-21 |
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| I had the opportunity to listen to the album in its entirety online when it first came out, courtesy of Imogen Heap via Myspace. I listened as I did chores around the house and found that there wasn't much on the album that stood out. After seeing that she would be in concert next month in my state, I decided I better get the album and get familiar with it so I would enjoy the concert more. I listened to the album about 3 times in a row and it definitely started to grow on me. Now I can say I really enjoy it and I do recommend it to any Immi fan. |
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A feast for the ears
Submitted on: 2009-10-16 |
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| I am a huge fan of Imogen Heap, both solo and with Frou Frou. This CD does not disappoint. The more you listen, the more you'll hear. The more you hear, the more you'll like it. Imogen's music and vocals have many layers, with everyday sound effects sprinkled in for good measure. Something might not catch your ear until you have listened to the CD over and over again---which I have. It has been in my CD player since the day it was released and I'm not ready to take it out. |
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A new direction for Imogen Heap
Submitted on: 2009-10-12 |
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Like her previous albums this one is unique to itself and honestly I didn't like most of it that much. Then, as I listened to it over the first day, it grew on me. The percussive sound is very catchy and the songs do get stuck in my head.
Ellipse as a whole has the same feeling as the song The Walk from Speak for Yourself. Earth, Tidal, Aha, Swoon, and Canvas have a great forward momentum to them that I enjoy, while 2-1 and Half Life have the strong lyrics that make her ballads so great.
The Album is not perfect Between Sheets is by far the weakest song on the album and feels flat and Little Bird feels like she was rushed to get it out and it didn't reach the level it could have. First Train Home, though a great song, is more commercial then the other songs and is almost out of place. However these weakness are overshadowed by the strong lyrics in all the songs as well as the unique instrumentals.
As usual Imogen Heap created an album that is so on the cutting edge of music that it almost falls off (and does in a bad way in Between Sheets). This album is not for everyone but many fans will be pleased and enjoy the direction she is going in. I'm very curious to see what her next album is going to be like and will enjoy Ellipse until I can find out |
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