Sarah BlaskoCountry of origin:Australia Type of music generally:Ectronic pop Status:Most recent release, Depth of Field (2018) See also:Sarah Blasko's site Comparisons:Inara George, Carina Round; shades of Sarah McLachlan, Beth Orton, and Fiona Apple possibly Covers/own material:Own General comments:The Overture & the Underscore is her first full-length CD release, but she *has* been around for a while. She released an EP previously, Prelusive in 2002. And before then she used to front a band called Acquiesce who released their EP, Aa is for acquiesce in 1999. Don't bother looking for these in your local shops, the odds of finding them are probably about as good as winning lotto... (afries@zip.com.au) Comments about live performance:was very happy to see Sarah Blasko last week at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City. She played at least half of Depth of Field, as well as songs from previous albums, all solo, in configurations from voice only to voice and piano, voice and beats, voice and piano and beats, and voice and guitar. On one song she played piano with her right hand and with her left hand played some sort of electronic box on top of the piano that gave off a theremin-like sound. Not a lot of stage banter, but she seemed very amused by the enthusiasm and attentiveness of the crowd, by most anything and everything really. It was quite cute. (April 2018, JoAnn Whetsell) Recommended first album:The Overture & the Underscore Recordings:
The Overture & the UnderscoreRelease info:2005—Universal Records—B0004724-02 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Sarah Blasko—vocals, snare, cymbals, tambourine Guest artists:Joey Waronker—drums, percussion Produced by:Wally Gagel, Sarah Blasko, Robert F. Cranny Comments:Sarah Blasko has one of those voices I could listen to all damn day. It's pretty and sexy while being strong and forceful at the same time. There's a twinge of smoke to it too. What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will HaveRelease info:2006 (Australia), 2007 (U.S.)—Universal Music Australia—B0009815-02 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Sarah Blasko—drum programming, synth, vibraphone, organ, Wurlitzer, acoustic guitar, string arrangement (1), vocal arrangement (3, 11), vocals Guest artists:Robert F Cranny—bass guitar, guitar, acoustic, electric, and nylon string guitars, synth bass, SH-101, organ, piano, mellotron, Wurlitzer, string synth, harmonium, synth, sampler, drum machine, guitar feedback (12), vocals (8), vocal arrangement (3, 11), string arrangement (1, 3, 4, 12), bassoon arrangement (3) Produced by:Sarah Blasko, Robert F Cranny & Jim Moginie Comments:This is a stellar follow-up to an impressive debut album, and I'm so glad it's finally available in the States. What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have is full of richness and complexity, and what I like about it is as hard to define as what I like about The Overture & the Underscore. I can say that, in comparison, What the Sea Wants... is slower in tempo, more meditative. This isn't something I noticed until getting to one of the more upbeat, "pop" songs on the album that sounded like it would fit right in on The Overture & the Underscore. There are also some lovely, haunting choruses. Bottom line: If you liked The Overture & the Underscore, you will like What the Sea Wants, the Sea Will Have too. And if you haven't discovered Sarah yet, this is a great place to start. (JoAnn Whetsell) As Day Follows NightRelease info:2009 (Australia), 2010 (U.S.)—Universal Music Australia Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Comments:I've never been able to quite finger how this album differs from its predecessors (it seems somehow lighter, dreamier—at least in places—and I think there are some instruments Sarah hasn't used before) but what's really important is that it's just as good. (JoAnn Whetsell) Cinema SongsRelease info:2011—Dramatico—DRAMCD0079 Availability:Hard to find Ecto priority:Low Group members:Sarah Blasko—vocals, piano Comments:Lovely 5-track EP of (mostly) songs from musicals that originally appeared as As Day Follows Night bonus material. Sarah doesn't reinvent these songs, but lives them, finding deep emotion. Well done. (JoAnn Whetsell) I AwakeRelease info:2013—Dew Process/Universal Music Australia Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Sarah Blasko—piano (8, 11); ukulele (3); mellotron (8); vocals Guest artists:Frederik Rundqvist—drums (1-6, 8-10, 12) Produced by:Sarah Blasko Comments:Is this Sarah's best album to date? There's definitely an argument to be made. Unfortunately I'm not the person to make it. As usual, I can't describe well why I like this album so much or how it differs from her previous three. I do think they're all subtly different, but I can't really explain how. All I can say is that I love this album and anyone who enjoys Sarah's previous releases should pick this one up too. (JoAnn Whetsell) Eternal ReturnRelease info:2015—Universal/EMI—4751310 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Recommended Group members:Sarah Blasko Guest artists:Jim Moginie—baritone guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, ukulele, theremin Produced by:Burke Reid Comments:Although I always loved opening track "I Am Ready," it took me a long while to get into this album. I think if I hadn't seen Sarah perform some of the songs live I might never have gotten into it at all. Originally I just found it boring, and while I've overcome that and appreciate the songs more now, I think some of the production choices and electronic sounds are a bit off-putting and probably what I was reacting to negatively at first. I'm glad this has grown on me, but I will probably continue to listen to her other albums more. (JoAnn Whetsell) Depth of FieldRelease info:2018—Universal/EMI—6717481 Availability:Wide Ecto priority:Highly recommended Group members:Sarah Blasko—piano, keyboards, lead and backing vocals Guest artists:Laurence Pike—drums and percussion Produced by:Sarah Blasko Comments:Nearly halfway through 2018, this remains my favorite album of the year to date. It's on the darker, electronic side of her work. Moody and sultry and entirely captivating. Although "It's really good; I love it!" is not a useful review, that's what I want to say to people while I shake this album in their faces and make them listen. That good. That much love. (JoAnn Whetsell) Further info:Compilation work includes: Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
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