Search - Lili Haydn :: Light Blue Sun

Promising

J Lee Harshbarger | Ypsilanti, MI United States | 08/19/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"So here's a violin player posing on the front album cover in a white outfit with a bare midriff, and on the back cover in a red outfit with a bare midriff. It seems she's trying to tell potential listeners, "I may play the violin, but I'm not stuffy--I'm a babe."



Well, I like the music Vanessa Mae and Bond produce, so the album cover trick worked--I went for this CD. Unfortunately, Lily Haydn is not of the caliber that the aforementioned artists are, but still, I think she shows promise.



First of all, her style of violin playing differs because it is more of a slow, sweet, warm sound as opposed to the faster style and technical prowess showing-off of Vanessa Mae or Bond, so she's not[...] comparable. The album is overall rather slow, the kind of music that would be fitting to play in candlelight. Also, she sings on nearly every track, although you still get to hear plenty of violin playing. She has a lovely singing voice, one similar in timbre to Vanessa Mae but more upfront, with a bit more power and emotion. I think fans of Sarah Brightman would appreciate her voice.



The major drawback of the album is the lyrical content. Here is an album of adult music, accompanied by lyrics so trite you would expect to hear them from a teen star. Most of the vocal tracks suffer from this, but the second and third tracks ("Come Here" and "Anything") are so [...], I nearly didn't continue listening to the rest of the album. However, the [...] songs on the album are the first three; things get better after that.



Here are some examples of what I mean by trite lyrical content. From the chorus of "Come Here": "If you ever loved me, if you ever cared, if you think I'm worthy, come here." The main line in "Anything" is, predictably, "I would do anything for you." From the chorus of "Wounded Dove": "But I want you to stay, my baby." When the lyrics aren't trite, they can be awkward, as in this line from "Home": "My cup is overflowing, my breast is swollen with your song." The bottom line: Lily Haydn, who wrote the lyrics to these songs, either needs to make vast improvements in her lyric writing ability or else use lyrics someone else wrote, because they take away from an otherwise lovely album.



There is one song in which she did not write the lyrics, and the theme of this one is different from the hopeless romanticism that dominates the other tracks. Here's a sample:



And I've been arrogant / And I have been atheist / And I have sung Your praise with my seductive twist / It was just my pride, Lord / That made me want to hide, Lord / It's You that I've denied



On the one hand, the change of lyricist and theme is welcome; on the other hand, the change is such a contrast that its abrupt difference makes the song seem not to fit on the album.



Musically, the album starts unimaginatively, but beginning with track 4, "Wounded Dove," it gets better and improves as the album continues, so that by the end you can forget how weak the beginning was. If you sample tracks on this site, I suggest listening to 4 and 5 first.



"The Longing," "Seek," and "The Promised Land" are the instrumental tracks on the album, and also the best ones. "Seek" has a good underlying beat that makes the track beg for a hot dance remix. (Another one that begs for a dance remix is "The Chinese Song.") "The Promised Land" is the opposite--with surf sounds in the background, and the violin sharing the spotlight with saxophone, this almost ambient track is one to float away your troubles.



My favorite vocal tracks are "The Chinese Song" (not sung in English, as it is taken from a Chinese folk song), "Sweetness," the most sensual track, and "Home." I like the music in "Wounded Dove" although the lyrics ruin some enjoyment of it. Three songs--"The Chinese Song," "Wounded Dove," and "Home"--have a Chinese flavor in the sound.



All in all, Lily Haydn shows enough promise on this album that I look forward to her next release. If she addresses the weaknesses in the lyrics, she could make a really great album. As it is, she has a good album, and I will continue to enjoy listening to it.



DECEMBER 2004 UPDATE -- When I wrote the above review in August 2003, I'd never heard of Lili Haydn and didn't know she had another album. Since then, I've acquired her first album. What a difference! It is FAR SUPERIOR to this album both musically and lyrically. "Light Blue Sun" is good in itself, but it's extremely disappointing as a follow-up to an amazing debut album. Her first album was on Atlantic Records and produced by Lili herself. This 2nd album is on Arista Records and co-produced by Bill Laswell. Atlantic Records ought to snatch her back, ditch the producer and let Lili do her thing. I want another album like her first one!"

Sensual, seductive and peaceful

Jennifer Vance | Coral gables, FL United States | 11/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I just happened to pick up her CD because of the cover. I had no idea who this artist was. I listened to a few seconds of each track in the store and popped it into the CD player once I was in the car. This album took my breath away. Beautifully done, If this album was a book, it would be a page turner leaving you on the edge of your seat to see what comes next. You do not want to skip any of the songs on this album. Lili well done!"

Where Has She Been?

Richard L. Goebel | Marion, IL | 03/06/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Since her debut "Lili" in 1997 the only other work I've found her on has been "Orchestra Was: Forever's A Long, Long Time" which was also from 1997. "Lili" was a promising debut album and to go 6 years until her sophmore effort has been a long time coming but well worth the wait with "Light Blue Sun". Mixing "New Age", "Oriental" and a "Mid East" feel into one disc shows her range as a progressive artist not a pop artist for the 00"s. "Anything" is a fine Progressive/Rock track and "The Longing" is an excellant "New Age" instrumental track. Again her vocals may not be her best trait but her violin playing and arrangements more than make up for that. The disc clocks in at 72 minutes so you definately get your money's worth. A fine effort!!!"