|
|
|
Aimee Mann is just
such an artist From her rise with
former band "Till Tuesday" & the classic tune "Voices Carry" to the present
day ; Aimee has carried the torch of independence in creative compositional
structure & unique originality with her diversified audio-sonic forms
The ongoing body of
work in her discography speak of her enigmatic & eclectic talent that
continues to shine brightly. Reinventing & rejuvenating anew , every time
that Aimee steps to the microphone or puts pen to paper ; The sign of
true creative genius , effortlessly follows her like a supernova From 1985's "Voices
Carry" & 1993's "Whatever" ; In the works of 1995's "I'm With Stupid"
& 2000's Bachelor # 2 ; Aimee carries forward the framework of independence
, spirit & brilliance in her catalog. The consistent nature of strength
of material & production are a springboard to the future & beyond. There
are no limits in sight for this reluctant & complex superstar. Icon is
not a tag that is often applied to musical artists Aimee Mann is just
such an artist A great deal of information
has been written about Aimee Mann & rightly so. When you conduct a portal
search you'll find a plethora of press & accolades. This is a natural
phenomenon & one that is not generated from the conglomerate machinery
of the post-modern era. It is a result & by-product of any great artistic
figure in the entertainment media. It is effortless in its perpetuation
& fascination Her latest release
"Lost In Space" is a masterwork of lyrical & melodic melancholic beauty.
In songs like "Humpty Dumpty" with it's introspective moody vibe , Aimee's
vocals glimmer with a smooth chanteuse quality a la Chrissy Hind ; Replete
with a Harrison-Esq electric slide guitar counterpoint "High On Sunday 51"
traverses a more acoustic roots path with accompanying Dobro & waltz time
, augmented with some sleek ghostly string backgrounds The title track "Lost
In Space" begins with a nice retro Wurlitzer electric piano & tasteful
electric reverberated electric six string guitar. The songs hook is superb
in its chillingly warm atmospheric dreamscape. The lyrical tapestry is
excellent & hauntingly plays off a lush sting orchestrated background
chorus ; Replete with pizzicato string nuances , the song is a melancholy
gem "This Is How It Goes"
flavor segues acoustic guitar in almost a new country vein ; Yet the orchestral
flourishes of synthesizers & wind instrument stops is heightened by Aimee's
use of major sevenths in her compositional structure ; Which serve to
veer into such a unique direction musically , that all label genre definitions
are useless. Aimee's music is strikingly non derivative & original , whilst
at the same token having a certain sense of humanity & familiar ambiance
In "Guys Like Me"
the tone shifts to the reflective resolve that characterizes much of the
work of "Lost In Space". We can't quite fathom why Aimee sounds emotionally
dark to some extent , but this type of mood is in itself such a painfully
beautifully experience , that it leaves us in a somnambulist state "Pavlov's Bell" projects
a middle tempo Hammond touch that shifts to an ELO-like cello counterpoint
in the chorus. The production & diversity of this tune , like each cut
on the album , leaves one guessing as to each peak & valley dynamic turn
, at the corner of every song bar "Real Bad News" with
its experimental free form intro sound-wash , shuffles into the storybook
diary of lyrical introspection that casts a world weary sheen onto Aimee's
work. The carousel at sunset quality of "Lost In Space" is distinct in
it's maturity & vulnerability. It reads like a novel Aimee's disarming &
beguiling charm attract a listener of any age or gender. The wisdom of
the work lyrically , stands in stark contrast to some of the more vapid
& banal attempts of other post modern music, that it is an absurd contrast.
Paradoxically, this content delivery is effected in a manner that is almost
alienated & ironically shines with humility. The unpretentious quality
& plaintive content of the music is a paradox of complexity & sublime
nuance "Invisible Ink" is a personal treatise that is nicely complimented with string arrangement finery. This material would be wonderful in an unplugged format broadcast world wide in satellite transmission. As the song dynamic builds , it begins to echo the type of production work that George Martin has weaved. The use of major & minor cadence is enhanced further, with the fine electric guitar underpinnings. "Today's the Day" shines
with organ & synthesizer nicely contrasting steel guitar splashes. The
hook in the song structurally is brilliant, as are many of the songs in
"Lost In Space". This album as a whole is just head & shoulders above
most contemporary works , right down to the production touches. It's earthbound
enough to be human & ethereal to the point of transcendence "The Moth" is a bit
of a departure. One might say that it's on the one hand about as close
to folk sounding as possible ; A spiritual undertow at the root of this
song makes it flicker like a candle in the nighttime sky "It's Not" is a refrain
& fitting epilogue to "Lost In Space". This tune like the body of work
in "Lost In Space" draws you into its inner framework & begs repeated
listening Aimee Mann's magnetic
field beckons to the depths of the soul in its majesty. It makes one desire
to love , in the same way that one needs to breathe. The more you try
to understand the nature & power of love, the more that it defies conventional
description. As does the earth life manifestation itself So without becoming
to cerebral , we would say that it's in the continuity of the traffic
light ; It's eternal blinking to green-red-yellow. The true nature is
behind the color spectrum of the prism We as mere mortals
are truly spirits driving behind the wheel of the vehicle. We are not
the car itself however. But the continual flickering of the light , drives
us onwards & it is the light which dispels the darkness If it were not for
the longing heart that searches for a meaning & realization of our love,
would we cease being human altogether ? For it is within the frailties
& shortcomings of our experiences on Terra Firma , that we can truly find
ourselves Lost In Space |
 |
 |
 |
Down
through the years in the world of music , from time to time an artist
captures both the imagination & admiration of the critics & the fans alike.
In these rare instances , it is the true vision of the work that shines
through like a rainbow's multi-colored hues cascading down the side of
a waterfall. Such summits of creative expression are a rarefied occurrence
; The adoration & acclaim that is hoisted upon the few that achieve this
level of artistic merit are well deserved. The musical annals of history
celebrate & iconize this level of recognition 
