12
Album Review - Sarah McLachlan - Wintersong
Posted by Robbie | Posted in Music, Reviews | Posted on 12-12-2008
I often say ‘If you’re gonna do a cover version of something, stamp your authority and style on the darned thing, or it may be consigned to the musak shelf in the album collection.’ You never have that fear with Sarah!
I could hear a recording of Ms. McLachlan whistling the cat… and I’d still be emotionally affected. What a voice.
When listening to Sarah McLachlan’s festive-themed album, Wintersong, by the third line of ‘War Is Over’ you know the ‘fasten seatbelts’ sign has been turned off and you are in McLachlan’s sumptuous, haunting, crystal-like universe. I play this album and I prepare for the texts and calls to pour in! People just seem to cozy up to Sarah’s unique quality of voice and forget their woes, if only for the time they listen to Sarah’s uber cool style of normal to falsetto voice.
Again, as with the trumpet of Chris Botti, Sarah’s spectral voice on ‘Silent Night’ gives us the SM treatment full tilt. It’s achingly beautiful chorale effect, the gentle piano lines… sheer class.
‘Oh Little Town Of Bethlehem’ with it’s simple chamber-like arrangement and the simple guitar lines is a joy to behold.
She teams up with Diana Krall on ‘Christmas Time Is Here’ and that’s all you need to know. Dear oh dear, simplicity never sounded so good!
‘In The Bleak Midwinter’ is an exceptional bit of vocal soundcraft, with Sarah intertwining that characteristic falsetto, working in new variations on the familiar theme, and there’s that word again… simplicity.
So. Take a look at the track listing. You know that this will be a perennial favourite.
Enjoy!
Robbie x
P.S. Want to have this album for yourself? Amazon.co.uk have it on CD (watch out for those delivery dates, though):
Also, Amazon now have the MP3 Download version of the whole album, or just individual tracks, and you can listen to a sample before you buy. Just scroll down the page below the album description and you’ll see the new MP3 Section.
-=-
Not sure what to get friends and family for Christmas? Away for the holidays and worried about last post dates? Try this fantastic idea: an Amazon.co.uk Gift Voucher. Arrives by email or in the post: