ALBUM REVIEW: Siobhan Donaghy
- Posted on June 4, 2007 1:55 PM
- 1 comment
Siobhan Donaghy – ‘Ghosts’
Review by Laura Yates
“Some people say you can’t make left-field pop music and be commercial” announces Siobhan Donaghy, “And that’s bullshit. They always say that when there’s nothing else out there like it. I remember what was on the radio when my career began and God, it’s so diverse now in comparison. And it feels good to be part of it”.
You may remember Siobhan Donaghy has one of the original members of the Sugababes. In terms of vocal style and song genre her second solo album ‘Ghosts’ couldn’t be further from the original R&B Pop flavoured sounds she released with the group. In her collaboration with producer James Sanger, she has discovered a new eclectic sound. On this album, the singer/songwriter with haunting vocals and thought provoking lyrics has certainly pushed Pop boundaries...
In 2003, After releasing her first solo album ‘Revolution in Me’, Donaghy took a break. She has certainly reflected her maturity, experiences and growth as an artist in ‘Ghosts’. The first track ‘Don’t Give Up’ I can only describe as hypnotic and I think a reflection on her experiences in both the music industry and life. Some people have described her vocals as reminiscent of Kate Bush of which I can definitely hear similarities. Her range and tone is incredible and carefully tailored to each track, my personal favourite ’12 Bar Acid Blues’ describes how running away from a situation is not always the answer - something many listeners can relate to. This track is quirky and simple yet tells a story through music which many songs of today seem to lack. The album as a whole is punchy yet maintains a contained and perhaps narrow range which could mean that some listeners feel the tracks do not reach a musical peak. Despite this only criticism, the artist I think, has purposely set out to construct the album in this way. I like the fact that although it is punchy, it does not sound too heavily produced, a number of the tracks emphasising a raw, acoustic feel which is then beautifully heightened by a string section.
The artist has made a brave move by releasing this album as some tracks may appeal more to the older audience who appreciate a slightly more ‘gritty’ sound as opposed to the teenage fans who favour the R&B flavour of her old material. This however, reflects her growth and achievement as an artist. As a consistent fan of the Sugababes, I remember the auburn-haired artist not really fitting in the sultry image of the band and I think it is only now that her elegance in terms of style and vocals will be appreciated and she can be considered an extremely talented singer/songwriter in her own right.
Comments (1)
manoj
hi u r amazing ok...
Posted on July 4, 2007 1:12 PM
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