Search - Caroline Lavelle :: Brilliant Midnight

An artist finally able to make the record she wanted

Ryan L. | Rochester, NY United States | 05/18/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well, seeing as NO reviewer online or off has decided to write about the followup to 1996's 'Spirit' album by Caroline Lavelle and noticing that I seem to be the only one interested in her growth as an artist and find it interesting to follow her career, I thought I would give 'Brilliant Midnight' a review. I still cannot believe that she is being ignored this week as the new REM and Weezer albums come out, but such is the state of music and my realization that if it isn't commercially viable then it isn't good. And of course, that's the silliest thing to say, but it seems to be the case....Jennifer Lopez and Britney Spears as formidable talents??? So, here we go with my "review." Caroline is a wonderful poet and I can admire her for her gift, mainly because she doesn't just spoonfeed you lyrics; they are creative, you have to think about their meaning, and they are ambiguous enough in many cases to mean different things to different listeners. These songs are not just replete with inane song lyrics.......this is poetry set to music and visa versa. Plus, she uses other people's poetry, "Siamiant'o" and "Le pourquoi" to convey her musical message. One may not have a clue about their subject matter, yet the music speaks for itself and reflects what language cannot. The biggest difference between "Spirit" and "Brilliant Midnight" lies in the second song, "Anxiety." It could either be about a smothering relationship or a stalker, but the electric guitars/drums are plugged in and Caroline uses her cello and gasping/moaning in a menacing and frightening way to almost let the listener wonder whether this "torture" is enjoyable or whether she is running from him. This song is so far away from anything on "Spirit" and it is truly intoxicating, mainly because you realize that Ms. Lavelle is doing what SHE wants musically. Unlike the formidable presence of William Orbit on her debut, the electronic aspect of "Brilliant Midnight" is there to enhance the songs, not just dominate them. This isn't to say I dislike her debut, but this album is SO much better. I bought this album on Tuesday the 15th of May, and I still cannot take it out of my cd player......I'm that impressed with it. It is also better to listen to as a whole, for there is a mood being set and it sometimes bleeds into the next song so wonderfully. My favorite songs include: Farther from the Sun, She Said, Siamianto, All I have, Le Pourquoi, Karma, and Universal. "The Fall" is another lovely song........ok, they all are well crafted, her voice is absolutely marvelous (she has extended her range and it is excellent) and the arrangements are clever and never meander into the banal. The only songs that are close to anything on "Spirit" are 'Anima Rising' and 'Farther than the Sun,' and many of the songs on this album wouldn't seem out of place in a classical voice recital....but they transcend musical genre because they are in the hands of such an adventurous musician. Her work on the recent Jocelyn Pook album, "Untold Things" is wonderful and worth a listen.....no vocals, but her exquisite cello can be heard. I also can't wait until the end of the year when she releases another album of new music: this being the poetry of World War I poets set to her own compositions. I can only hope that someone else will take a listen to this and by the amount of "Brilliant Midnight's" sold on Amazon.com, I realize that she does have fans. I look forward to seeing how all of this tranfers to a live setting......I'm sure amazingly well. Definitely an album I will be buying for all my friends and one that I find more and more interesting and sonically deep the more I listen to it. You really should do so as well."

Musical sexual chocolate.

Lord Chimp | Monkey World | 01/28/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The word "beautiful" is a bit ubiquitous in my reviews, I think, but the adjective definitely applies to Caroline Lavelle's music. Her voice is extremely gorgeous, and she hits notes with an indescribable sultry technique that will make any man shiver (97% chance). However, what makes the listening experience truly enjoyable is that Lavelle writes great songs and she's a clever lyricist. Her talent is truly brought forward by her second album (which she produced herself). The musicianship on Brilliant Midnight (great name!) is a lot more elaborate and intense. Granted, it's still slow and moody, but the compositions have a greater overall sense of space and vigor. "She Said" shows this, with its quaking, emotionally intense chorus and robust orchestration. The first song, "Farther than the Sun", is an evocative stunner that would fit nicely on the debut. There is a lot more acoustic instrumentation on this album as well (compared to her debut, which was dominated by electronics), with nicely composed string arrangements, and Lavelle's cello a lot more involved in the music. "Twisted Ends" is a short little instrumental at the end of the disc, where Lavelle plays piano and cello in soft, tranquil melodies. The odd "Siamant'o", based on a poem called "A Handful of Ash", is exquisite, bare music of cello, keys, and guitar under a haunting vocal melody. Seven-minutes long and based just around a few chords, it shows that the simplest music is sometimes the best. "Universal" is calculated beauty, with a mysterious lyric and a whispering vocal. Also interesting are the delicate pop-flavored "All I Have", the exotic percussion of "Anxiety", and the enchanting "The Fall". There was a six year wait between Spirit and Brilliant Midnight...now we know good things were being done in that interim! I just hope the wait isn't as long for album #3."

If you think the US release of Brilliant Midnight was good..

L. Nicholson | Austin, TX USA | 09/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"...go over to Amazon UK and buy the latest release there. It feels like an almost different album (showing my age there). I own both versions, now, and far prefer the release that was on her own label.Along with a few extra tracks, you get a far more vibrant feel, and a deeper, richer tone to each track. Do yourself a favor and splurge - get both - one for the car and one for the house. You will not be sorry.BTW, anyone who already knows the spectacular talent of this composer and lyricist needs no further explanation. Anyone who hasn't given her a listen should hurry and buy either copy NOW. Timeless music, folks...so heartrendingly lovely that there are no words that can possibly describe the experience. Nuff said."