Search - Ute Lemper :: Crimes of the Heart

Easiest listening

Brouwer, Ron | Utrecht, Utrecht Netherlands | 08/19/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Crimes of the heart" signals Ute Lemper's first successful solo attempt in recording an album that makes her dramatic voice accessible to a large audience. The album contains lyrics in the three languages Ute has perfect command of: her native German in "Und wenn er wiederkommt", a song that was also recorded by Marlene Dietrich, with whom Ute shares her timeless beauty, French in "Envie d'amour" and English in the other songs. The album stands out in that it is both interesting to listen to in concentration as well as serves as pleasant atmospheric music that blends in with, let's say, a dinner setting. Whereas Ute's wide vocal range and dynamic dramatic abilities are better heard on some of her other recordings, "Crimes of the heart" provides the listener with Ute's smoothest performance to date. That explains why none of the tracks really stands out on this album which is outstanding as a whole. "Crimes of the heart" was recorded in 1989 and has seen two different releases; one includes opening track "A man and a woman", which is not included on the other, which contains "Sabotage" and "Wherever the dream takes me" instead."