Ellipse

Moving on
Let me be blunt: This did not rock me in the ways my first discovery of Imogen did. There is some beautiful music here (the fire, Aha!, Canvas) but other than that, I didn't have this feeling that I was listening to the compelling, captivating Imogen that I was used to. Still, I'd love to see her live in concert, and if you're a fan, there's no telling whether this will be your favorite CD from her, or one that you appreciate but doesn't top your list.

Awesome, just as I expected
Been following Imogen Heap for some time now and as always, I love this CD.

Imogen Heap my angel in distress.
I am living and working in a remote area of Australia, in the middle of Kakadu National Park and as we have no radio any music is greatly appreciated. Being a technophile I have no laptop,Ipod etc.So I ordered some CD's online of artists ,such as Imogen Heap(being aquainted with her last release) Being an artist and a kitchen worker her emotive style suits me. I have listened to it over and over again.Its moods are strong and their are various layers to be discovered when you allow the music to sweep over you when you feel like the intense feelings/harmonies she radiates.If music is a landscape she takes you soaring through the air and alternately into some of her deepest valleys. I had an interesting introduction to "Ellipse".One of those wierd strange phenomena things happened - coincidence ? As I had to wait for the CD to arrive it was shipped from New Zealand to OZ I begun a painting of a beautiful little native bird ,called an azure Kingfisher on a wooden plate,but before I did this I selected a crop circle design and etched this sacred geometry design on the dish underneath before I painted the bird over the top of it.(I am into the power of crop circles).Anyway I was painting this bird on this dish as i listened to the CD as the song " Little Bird" came on. The lyrics went something like this: "Simon says etch a sketch,with a message only he will get, quickly... My name just happens to be Simon and I had etched a crop circle underneath my picture of my little bird to give the drawing a hidden sacred dynamic. So when that song came on as I was painting it was like,"Wow this chick (Imogen Heap) is like psychically attuned to me or something!(weird!) Otherwise dig this CD and have done other paintings to it,meditated to it. she is still as sexy and insightful as ever,being the modern,techniclogically in-touch artist she is. Thanks!

Superb from Beginning to End
ELLIPSE puts Imogen Heap firmly in my pantheon of singer-songwriters. The studio craft in this CD can be appreciated on MP-3 players, but it is downright astonishing when heard on a decent stereo or surround system. The thirteen tracks are juxtaposed to highlight the originality of each and there is no filler. Heap knows how to drawn on her musical heritage and make it new, from folk to technopop: "First Train Home" belongs in the proud line of train songs, "2-1" flirts with admonitory anthem. Heap's musicality shines in the ways her songs develop: some are catchy from the first bars ("Bad Body Double," for instance), but most use their lyric structure to unfold gradually, with limited use of refrains and considerable freedom in the repetition of melodic lines. I've bought extra copies to give away to friends.

Imogen weaves a rich and interesting tapestry
I like music that doesn't say all it has to say on the first listen, and this album fits that criterium well. Imogen clearly puts her heart and intelligence into her music. This, combined unique vocal talent and excellent production make for a great listen. I love the subtle introduction of middle-east chant-like aspects in a few places. The inclusion of real strings really fills out several of the songs. What also stuck out to me is the thought that was put into some of the bass lines; more interesting than the usual key-setting notes. As a guy, Bad Body Double feels a little on the silly side, like watching a "cheesy chick flick", but the lyrics are rather clever and the music is so good that I can stand it. Really nothing else to say negative about the album; it's a fine work of art.