Aya (3) - Strange Flower
Label:
Catalog#:
NMN016
Format:
CD, Album
Country:
US
Released:
May 2004
Genre:
Electronic
Style:
Acid Jazz,
Downtempo,
Future Jazz
Tracklist
| 1 | Looking For The Sun | 3:28 | ||
| 2 | Slippin' | 4:11 | ||
| 3 | Nobody Knows Me | 4:24 | ||
| 4 | You're Not The Only One | 4:49 | ||
| 5 | Uptown | 4:51 | ||
| 6 | 45 Parade Place | 1:58 | ||
| 7 | I'll Never Give In | 3:40 | ||
| 8 | Do What You Want | 4:26 | ||
| 9 | Afterhours | 1:11 | ||
| 10 | Uptown (Dub) | 6:16 | ||
| 11 | Put Your Faith In Us | 3:32 | ||
| 12 | Sean | 4:02 | ||
| 13 | Curtain Call | 4:14 | ||
| 14 | Lullaby For Stephen | 2:41 |
Credits
Recommendations
-
Blue Six - Beautiful Tomorrow (CD, Album)
-
Gaelle* - Transient (CD, Album)
-
Various - Nude Dimensions Volume 3 (CD, Comp, Mixed)
-
-
Mauricio Aviles - Nude Dimensions 2 (CD, Comp, Mixed)
▸ show all 3 reviews
Reviews & Discussion
Smooth production from Blue Six, sultry female vocals -- all the good elements are here. So why was I not too taken to Aya's STRANGE FLOWER? The album just didn't engage me. The tracks were so smooth that they completely slipped on by. I wanted the tracks to catch my attention, but for the most part, they didn't. And given how much I loved Blue Six's BEAUTIFUL TOMORROW, I suppose my expectations were high. But the tracks here stay so consistently mellow and pretty-pretty that they become featureless. Compare "Afterhours" to its non-acapella version "Sweeter Love," for example. Or the deep dubby version of "Uptown" to the pleasant but dull original version. Many of the other tracks sound like Blue Six ideas that just weren't fully developed and given lyrics. On the positive side, the subdued house beat of "I'll Never Give In" brings a respite to the predominant R&B vibe going on. Sure, it's good as background music, but I also think that artists of Blue Six's caliber should strive for something more.
After hearing Aya on the Sweetback - Stage 2 CD and on a number of Naked Music songs (Sweeter Love), I was pleasantly surprised to find that she finally released her own CD - Strange Flower.
Searching for a store that even carried this CD, I must say that this CD for the most part lived up to what I was expecting.
Aya has some great vocal range with a really nice voice to listen to, her lyrics are pretty decent (more than simple) and there are some good catchy beats to her CD. There are some mellow songs in "Curtain Call" and some good funk in "Uptown". I thoroughly enjoyed her "Afterhours" song with the lyrics from Blue Six's Sweeter Love.
Car Driving Ability = 8.5 / 10
CD Rating = 5 / 5
Searching for a store that even carried this CD, I must say that this CD for the most part lived up to what I was expecting.
Aya has some great vocal range with a really nice voice to listen to, her lyrics are pretty decent (more than simple) and there are some good catchy beats to her CD. There are some mellow songs in "Curtain Call" and some good funk in "Uptown". I thoroughly enjoyed her "Afterhours" song with the lyrics from Blue Six's Sweeter Love.
Car Driving Ability = 8.5 / 10
CD Rating = 5 / 5
Ms. Trenier's soothing voice is second to none, and the lyrics on most of the songs are intelligent, deliberate, and sexy in the most subtle way.
"Nobody Knows Me" and "Curtain Call" easily became my favourites for its' brilliant combination of lyrics, interesting layering, and bright positive vibe.
It's been five years since I bought the album, but it always felt like I just bought it yesterday. It's that good.