Search - Anggun :: Chrysalis (+1 Bonus Track)

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J. Taylor | United Kingdom | 12/04/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Track list: Still reminds me/ Rain/ Breathing/ Chrysalis/ Tears of joy/ Want you to want me/ How the world .../ A prayer/ Non Angelical/ Look into yourself/ Forbidden love/ Signs of destiny/ Comme un privilege/ Broken dreams/ Marcher sur la mer (bonus track).Indonesian pop princess, Anggun, never really broke through with her English language debut "Snow on the Sahara" BUT this smooth second set should, in a just world, propel her on to a bigger stage. "Chrysalis" is a truly beautiful project. For those unfamiliar with Anggun>> she has a deep and earthy voice that is initially unusual on a first listening but then warm and inviting on a second. Imagine a softer Annie Lennox or a more soulful Amanda Marshall. The music and style fit the description of a female Seal. French Producer Erick Benzi provides a rich soundscape of unique rhythms that surround Anggun's vocals in the same perfect way as William Orbit with Madonna on Ray of Light. Though "Chrysalis" bears no electronica; imagine more of the cool organic soul of Sade but driven with sweet guitar-led instrumentation and delicious drum loops a la Dido and Sarah Maclachlan. From the opening whispers on the brilliant, gently rolling, lead single "Still reminds me", every single track surprises and delights with gorgeous melodies, infectious chorus lines and intelligent stirring. Further highlights include "Rain" with it's playful, dancing bass lines/ the piano led ballad "Want you to want me"/ the Arabian pleasures on "How the world ..."/ the powerful dance loops on "Destiny" and the shining "Non Angelical" with it's "Rock Lobster"-like beats and noises. Truly stunning.In this world of disposable pop and a high turnover of artists, Anggun has delivered an album that should stand as a classic that people will return to over and over again. I urge anyone reading this review to track this CD down, hear it for yourselves and spread the good word."

Anggun continues winning streak

Paul S. Fish | Jamaica Plain, MA | 10/24/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Chrysalis", Anggun's second english language release continues right where "Snow On The Sahara" left off. The performance and production of this CD is absolutly pristine Any fans of Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel and the like will take this one to heart. The standout tracks are "Still Reminds Me", "Want You To Want Me", "Non Angelical", "How The World" and "Breathing". Like "Snow On The Sahara", "Chrysalis" was produced by Erick Benzi (Celine Dion). The major difference is that Anggun has co-written every single song. This Indonesian by way of France beauty shows strong growth and an emotional depth that would cripple lesser artists. There will not be a more beautiful sounding CD in the next year."

Chrysalis: Anggun On Her Way To Become A Butterfly

anonomouse | World | 07/29/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"After Anggun's breathtaking international debut album Snow On The Sahara, you'll be excused to want more of something similar as a follow-up. In this case, you'll be disappointed. She skids repeatation trap here. Chrysalis is an album that needs (and deserves) to be appreciated for its own merits -- and it has quite a few of them. Give it a few listens (several tracks might need getting used to), and your disappointment will dissipate and turn into a smile. The smile of discovering another great music. And the smile of affirmation: that Anggun IS an interesting, talented artist worth watching for.Anggun shows a leap of growth as an artist with Chrysalis. She wrote/co-wrote all the the lyrics, and co-wrote some of the melodies. The song materials are a bit uneven, but a fine effort in overall. Most of the songs are above average, and several of them shine. Compared to the poetical romanticism laced with visual imagery of her previous album, the lyrics in Chrysalis are more direct, more simple. This is not necessarily a bad thing. In the leading track Still Reminds Me, Anggun's simple lines (without being simplistic) can effectively evoke the melancholy and pangs of longing for someone who seems to have never left. Like her previous album, Anggun uses visual metaphors in Chrysalis, but contextually much simpler, sometimes very straightforward. This works fine when the song is playful and light-hearted -- like in the casual tittle track Chrysalis where she coyly coos "to get that one kiss, I'll wait patiently like a chrysalis." Not all the lyrics are about romantic love. A Prayer is Anggun's expression of faith, gratitude and hopes. In songs like Tears Of Sorrow and How The World..., Anggun gets philosophical on human nature and the world. But there's a difference between the two. The strong lyrics of Tears Of Sorrow (delivered in pop high-priestess style) sounds rather sombre and cynical. On the otherhand, How The World... is set with a playful, light hearted mood, and doesn't feel preachy despite the subject.Another Anggun's growth in this album is in her vocals. More mature, smooth and balanced, her heart-felt vocals alone is enough reason to buy this album. Adding to this, Erick Benzi's stunning music arrangements, and great production quality, provide her voice with fitting soundscapes -- with enough subtle varieties from song to song. There are still ethnic touches and feel here, but done sparingly and in a sublimated way. Anggun seems to want to avoid the label "world pop" this time. With infectious drums, sweet guitars and dominant synths, the overall feel of the music is smart, cool, contemporary. A beautiful sound indeed.Stand-out tracks: Still Reminds Me (a chart-topping radio hit in Europe and Asia) is an immediately likeable song with its beautifully layered vocals. The piano-led ballad Want You To Want Me is Anggun's haunting homage to a fan (written from the fan's point of view). Non Angelical is an absolutely infectious track that recalls B52 at their best, with playful drum beats, synth grooves and Gildas Arzel's delicious guitar stint. How The World... is set in bewitching Arabian/Indian style music, the only song in this album that is out-right ethnic, although the overall feel of the song is still contemporary. Other tracks worth mentioning: Rain -- effective voice & sound compression that adds color and enhance the mood of the song. Chrysalis -- playful party style song. Broken Dream -- smart criss-crossing vocal-melody on top of cool fusion sound. Look Into Yourself -- self-contemplative lyrics with positive message but set in a slow-rolling, slightly sombre tone of music, with haunting chorus. A Prayer -- the sincerety and humbleness in Anggun's delivery, along with the very hopeful nature of the lyrics, are simply disarming here.3.5 stars for song materials, 4 stars for music, 4 stars for vocals (now, if only the materials are more challenging!): Chrysalis is a smart, classy contemporary pop album worth buying."