I have been listening to four of her five albums on repeat for two days now! The voice is clear, direct, beautiful Listening to Slean reminds me of my love, in my younger days, of artists such as Tori Amos and Fiona Apple. This is heartfelt, lyrically candid music, yet on first appraisal there would seem to be something more adult, more objective, less needy about Slean's songs. I truly am impressed. Coming at this as something of a novice, my conjecture is that existing fans of Sarah Slean may be a little disappointed by The Baroness , her first studio album since Featuring a good share of acoustic guitar alongside her signature piano, any excess drama or instrumentation has been stripped away, the almost-cabaret of some of her previous work stepping aside to make room for the words.
And it really is good. Just not as good as Night Bugs or, in particular, Day One. There has been a mellowing, a maturation, a change of direction. The songs are honest, Slean wearing her heart on her sleeve to some extent Here the ballad is king, and that has me, even as a rookie Slean appreciator, wishing she had kept a few more of the bells and whistles Many an interview with Slean features her talking about a need for artistic clarity, a need to get away from it all and regroup.
In her own words: "Going into that foreign world, you see better. Best known as guitarist and chief songwriter for hard rock favourites I Mother Earth, Tanna is now highly-respected for his studio skills. The sonic icing on the cake came from the mixing of David Bottrill, famed for his work with such artists as Peter Gabriel, Muse and Tool.
A recording artist for a dozen years, Sarah, at just 30, has a formidable body of work on a resume that includes two Juno award nominations. Slean has recently signed on with a New York-based management company that also handles Rufus Wainwright a creative kindred spirit with whom Sarah has toured , and prospects beyond Canada beam bright.
It is a little disconcerting to be that naked! This multiple threat talent has the voice of an angel hired by the likes of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and The Art of Time Ensemble , the soul of a poet she published Ravens in , the fluent fingers of an ace piano player featured on several albums including Pilate and K-Os , and the technical chops that have made her an in-demand string arranger for such peers as Hayden and Howie Beck.
And did we mention she is also an acclaimed actor a Gemini award nomination for her lead role in noir musical Black Widow and accomplished visual artist who had a public exhibition of her work at the Spin Gallery in Toronto in ? Scarcely seems fair, does it. A self-confessed perfectionist, she is constantly working at the craft of composition, while always remaining open to calls from the muse.
Her extensive but always effective use of strings helps set Slean apart from her piano-playing pop peers. I had to re-score all my older material, and I loved that process. I listen to the string-writing on my previous records, such as my second independent album from , and it is infinitely better now than it was then— so I have to keep going!
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