Imogen Heap - iBabble ~ View topic - How was the album different than what you expected?

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< 'Ellipse' Discussion ~ How was the album different than what you expected?

windkirby

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 3:14 am

Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 31

For me, I was definitely expecting more hooks. The album really stays away from stuff that would get stuck in one's head, with the exceptions of Earth and A-ha! and maybe some select parts of other songs. It's definitely interesting (and definitely creative) for Imogen to make these choices - it really made the album have greater depth and emotional meaning, I think. I was kind of expecting really great but not especially "different" music, but I was quite surprised.
Personally, I might have preferred a few more hooks, just to my personal taste; I think if Tidal shyed away from the electronics, for example, it might have been more effective. As for now, it's probably my least favorite song on the album - I was really hoping it would bring out the guy's voice - which was the interesting part of the song for me - but instead it felt kind of added on like it was more of an afterthought. Basically I thought the album really went more for fashion statements rather than aesthetic pleasure, if that makes sense.
Another way it was way different than I was expecting were the deep lyrics, especially in 2-1. SFY talked a lot about just two ordinary people, but Ellipse delves into the whole human race with A-ha! Little Bird, Earth, and 2-1, while BBD, FTH and Half-Life throw in some emotional experiences everyone goes through. And Canvas is just conceptual genius once you get an understanding of it.
Anyway, I really like this album; I think I'd give it a 4/5 just because I'm more into, well, catchier music, I guess, but I do appreciate its depth. Anyway, after listening a few times I'm just spilling my Ellipse thoughts. What about you guys?

Guest

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 4:22 am

Guest

The album definitely flows together as a cohesive work. I think a lot of people enjoy Imogen's earlier single-based work where she'd have very different songs.

I think the most disappointing thing that I found was the album's greater hidden curiosities of the sounds she used weren't pronounced enough. I'm hoping a dvd 5.1 release will remedy that issue. We were also promised a DVD on release, which I'm still waiting for, Ms. Heap! Laughing

adamtce

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 4:55 am

Guest

the DVD is a making of, not a 5.1

she sorta commented on 5.1 saying she had it installed but didn't know if you should write the album in 5.1

JonWes

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:22 am

Joined: 06 Nov 2005 Posts: 310 Location: Tolono, IL

Hmmmm.... well, especially after First Train Home I was surprised at how adventurous the album was. I mean, I like First Train Home and there really is a lot of fresh stuff in it but it sounded like it could have been on SFY to me. But the album as a whole is quite a different beast.

I have to say, I think there are TONS of hooks all over the album. They aren't just always in the chorus. I find myself humming or thinking of lyrics of nearly every song on the album at times. To me, a ton of the best moments not only lie in the chorus but very often in the bridge as well. I think Tidal is a song that has a killer bridge. In Wait It Out, although the chorus is lovely, the part that I'm always singing along to are the lyrics "all I want/only want/one street level miracle / I'll be an out and out born again / from none more cynical"

I think the thing that surprised me also was that although First Train Home was a bit of a grower for me, the rest of the album hit me over the head right away. I also enjoyed the range of the album as well. I think she mines a lot of different topics and emotional notes. I'm a fan of Dido and one thing that kind of bummed me out about Safe Trip Home (an album I really like overall) was that half the songs were about love and nearly the other half was about death. It's understandable from a songwriting perspective, especially if both things were so prevalent... but as a listener sometimes it's nice to have a better mix of topics.

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DavidB

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 12:33 pm

Joined: 02 Jul 2009 Posts: 1202 Location: London

The main thing that strikes me is how different it is from S4Y (despite some of the more idiotic reviews, saying basically it is the same as S4Y but not as good)). It is much more varied in style and instrumentation, and there is a shift away from electronic to 'natural' sounds, and much less heavy synthesised percussion. (I think this continues the trend in the other things Immi has written since S4Y, such as Cumulus, NNBS, and Glittering Clouds.)

I'm still not sure that track-for-track the material is as strong as on S4Y, though I think Canvas, Wait it Out, and Half Life are among Immi's very best work, and Earth, Little Bird and Tidal are not far behind. I have reservations about 2-1, as I'm not sure if the lyrics are profound or just pretentious (sorry, Immi). But overall the variety, the brilliance of the arrangements (especially the backing vocals), and the strength of the main vocals makes it if anything even more enjoyable to listen to than S4Y. In any case, as Immi said in vBlog 40, there would be no point in trying to make a S4Y 'Take 2'.

RBerman

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 8:18 pm

Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 114

It surprised me by being really good. Before you pick up rocks to hurl at me, I never thought Ellipse would be bad. But I did worry that it couldn't live up to the hype generated by spending two years watching Imogen make vblogs about it. Also, I've found of late that many of my recent album purchases were enjoyable more for the overall sound of the artist than for the individual songs. As a result, when I get a second album by that same artist, it doesn't make much additional impression to me.

But comparing Ellipse to Speak For Yourself, I hear an expanded sonic palette, carefully orchestrated, put to the service of several good songs. (And several songs that don't do much for me, but I can only think of a handful of albums ever made about which I wouldn't be able to say that.) It's an excellent effort, and one that makes me hear Imogen put her producing talents to work for other songwriters.

underdissolution

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:02 pm

Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 374 Location: Cambridge UK

Tbh, I was a bit disappointed. Sad

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adamtce

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:08 pm

Guest

underdissolution wrote:

Tbh, I was a bit disappointed. Sad

well you can just go to hell....

not really JK JK.
i was at first and then i didn't listen to it for a bit and now i LOVE it.

underdissolution

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:10 pm

Joined: 24 Feb 2008 Posts: 374 Location: Cambridge UK

adamtce wrote:

underdissolution wrote:

Tbh, I was a bit disappointed. Sad

well you can just go to hell....

not really JK JK.
i was at first and then i didn't listen to it for a bit and now i LOVE it.

Why? It's just my opinion and I have been waiting for years for this album. I still think it's good, just not as good as I expected.

ETA: Oh didn't see the last bit. Sorry.

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Zhe Toralf

Posted: Sat Sep 05, 2009 11:57 pm

Guest

I just bought the album today. While i was listening to the first few tracks, i was reminded of "speak for yourself", with the high voice and the electronic parts. Since i heard "sfy" i always thought that immi should do some songs that would bring out the depth of her voice and be less pop again, as in "i megaphone". I don't know how else i should describe it. Well, then i listened to "swoon" (which is one of my faforites by now), which reminded me of the older songs of immi, despite being something completely different. Then it hit me, that she still "had it in her". As soon as i realised that, i understood that "ellipse" was not an extention of "sfy", but an evolution onward and that immi may also have gotten some elements from her earlier songs into "ellipse". "AHA!" (which is my other faforite) finally gave me the certainty of that.
Ellipse, maybe not what you expect - perfectly Immi

diphthong

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 12:12 am

Joined: 18 Jan 2006 Posts: 35

It's much more random than expected. From the bizarre Russian folk-dance "Aha" to an entirely instrumental piano track to the punchy "Swoon" and "Bad Body Double" ... well, there's a lot of variety. For this reason, I prefer SFY, which seemed to be more cohesive, but love this album anyway for its variety. I can't wait to see how it translates live!

Nadsua

Posted: Sun Sep 06, 2009 3:28 am

Joined: 25 Aug 2009 Posts: 12

I, for one, LOVE Ellipse as a whole, although a couple songs I skip every now and then are Aha! and Bad Body Double. Everyone seems to love that song, but I don't as much, although it is still a really good song!!

I was surprised about how fast it would go by, all wonderful 45 minutes of it. I mean, I wish it was longer!!! If I could change one thing about Ellipse, I would have more songs in it so that it's more like an hour, or an hour 15 min. so I don't run out of Immi songs to listen to!!! I made a mix of all my faves from all the main albums as well as a couple others, and it was little over 2 hours. You know how Immi said in the vBlog that she had 674 more songs or something like that?? I wish that I could suddenly transport those songs into my iPod, even if it was just Immi singing them a capella. That would be enough to last me a roadtrip!!

sigh. Crying or Very sad

The album was really really good, but the more I listen to it, the less it blows me away, but that's what always happens to me when I listen to an album 24/7. gotta get out of that habit. Maybe I should listen to some other albums and then come back to Immi and blow myself away again!!! Very Happy

as always,
-Naddie

mikeyfridgebuzz

Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2009 4:00 pm

Guest

I think "First Train Home" is the ultimate fake out in that it's this catchy song with hooks all over the place and then the rest of the album plays out as hooks here and there with more atmospheric "listen to repeatedly to appreciate" type music.

For this reason, i think the album will suffer as far as the casual fans will go.

This album is a grower and although I'm sure I will appreciate more of the nuances with even more listens, I'm pretty sure it will still be my third favorite Immi album until she comes out with her 4th album.

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