Search - Martina Topley-Bird :: Quixotic

A vocal ride with a great arsenal of songs to match...

Takis Tz. | InYourHead | 12/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One of the recent great albums to have escaped many people's radars "Quixotic" is a trppy and spacey ride musicwise and vocalwise. Martina Topley Bird has put her signature voice on many of the early triphop era albums (those of Tricky), and even though many people will recognise the voice instantly they'll have difficulty placing it somewhere.



The album starts off with one of the most uplifting rock songs i've heard recently and that itself is a surprise start for her repertoire. This is then followed by more expected electronica tunes, smooth silk cuts adorned by Topley's soothing voice, and even a couple of gorgeous soul songs (that would put most of modern soul "divas" to utter shame).



I can safely say here that this is one the most diverse albums i've heard in the past 2-3 years. Topley sounds like she's showing off her stunning vocal talent but the thing is she sounds so convincing in each and every song she delivers that you know she's feeling each single note she sings.



Obviously this LP has gone unheralded and undiscovered which is a real shame then when other way less talented vocalists are busking in undeserved fame. Topley is a massively gifted singer with a very characteristic voice, one you immediately fall for upon the very first listen.



In a time where female vocals seem to be very trendy it's prudent to discover the real gems out there and spare yourself the garbage promoted by the hype machine.



As a closing note, don't go for the US version of this album which comes with 3 songs less and there's absolutely no reason to:

a. get mysteriously ripped off like that

b. miss out on any song of this album as they are all more than worthy...



"

Quixotic: breathtaking, wonderful. (Don't buy "Anything"!)

dosgatosazules | USA | 03/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you absolutely cannot find Quixotic (it's available here on Amazon as an import; even if it's pricier you'll be glad you paid the extra)then you should buy Anything, it's better than nothing. (No pun intended).



But really, just buy Quixotic. It has three songs that Anything doesn't, among which are the haunting, beautiful "Stevie's (Days of a Gun" which took a while to grow on me but really layer vocals, strings, and remixing in an amazing, unprecented way. And it has "Lying" which is also vocally haunting and one of the more lyrically interesting songs on the album. It also has "I Wanna Be There" which isn't as enjoyable in my opinion but it definitely shows off one of Martina's greatest strengths: her ability to pair trip-hop, rock, soul, and something else entirely, and end up with something much much greater than the sum of its parts.



Also, for reasons that make no sense to me, the Anything version of "Soul Food" is different and inferior to the Quixotic version - the vocals are re-recorded and flatter, and other stuff is missing. (I don't have both albums with me to compare, but I remember being struck by how some of what makes Soul Food so wonderful was somehow gone on the Anything version.)



So yeah, just buy Quixotic already.



Of course, most albums have what makes both so amazing. This music is beautiful, complex, eerie in parts, rich, melodic. It's also incredibly complex musically, and it's one of those albums that is challenging and has something to teach musicians and music afficionados, while still being utterly accessible and fun to listen to.



Some songs (Soul Food, Lullaby, Anything for example) are perfect for a romantic evening; Ilya's music makes me think of a good song to play at a hipster art gallery opening, and its lyrics are good for the bitter aftermath of a failed relationship ("Thought i was in love/tell me was i wrong/You know we were wrong together"). The string section of Ilya alone almost makes the whole damn album worth it: I want someone to write an entire string piece based on those few seconds.



Her lyrics might be said to be the one weakness; it's not that they are bad or awkward in any way. In fact, there are plenty of gems:

"Seven states away they're doin', doin'

the Strange Fruit swing

when they come down

you have to leave town" ("Too Tough to Die")

or

"I went down to the house in your girlfriend's clothes

They fit me better than I would have supposed"

(Lying)



It's just that for someone who so beautifully does things never before achieved in music, I would have thought her lyrics would do the same; instead they can be somewhat .... conventional.

("I don't want anything but you/I don't need anything but you" from "Anything"; plus "Soul Food"'s lyrics are relatively tame for such a seductive, marvelous song.) It's a minor quibble, really, in an overall wonderful album.



So yes, buy this; if you're me, it'll actually take you a minute to warm to it (I didn't like it at first, to be honest, but then i couldn't find most of my CDs and so had to listen to this one; I was hooked.) Others will immediately love it.



My Discman has already given it one of the Top 5 Most played CDs of 2004, and it'll be a top contender for that prize in 2005 too.



Plus, being a Martina Topley-Bird fan will impress all your music snob friends. Admit it, that's a pull. But you get the greatest benefit: This kick-ass album."

If you can get this instead of Anything, do it!

Eric | MA, USA | 01/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Martina Topley-Bird, of Maxinquaye fame, has really shown in this album that she is an excellent artist even without Tricky. If you are a fan of Tricky you will probably enjoy hearing her voice again, but this album is not really all that similiar to Tricky's work. It is alot more soulful and less electronic than Tricky, and has a very raw feel to it.

For those of you who don't know, this is the original UK release, which has the original production as well as 3 tracks which are not included in the American release "Anything". I have not heard Anything all the way through, but it seems like this is indeed a better album. If you can't grab this album Anything is okay, but I suggest Quixotic over it."