Lili Haydn
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Evocative/eclectic, experimental alternative pop/rock
Status:
Most recent album, Place Between Places (2008)
See also:
Lili Haydn's site
Comparisons:
She reminds me of Never For Ever-era Kate Bush and early Happy Rhodes, though I don't want to push those comparisons too far. (Greg.Jumper@Eng.Sun.COM)
Covers/own material:
Own and co-written
General comments:
Some while back there was mention of violinist Lili Haydn, and I inquired whether she might be the same Lili that was a regular on the mid-'80s tv show The New Gidget. Well, after purchasing her CD today I again went in search of info on her, and found her bio on the atlantic records site...anyway, sure enough, same Lili. And the CD is pretty good....
On the show Gidget is grown up, married, and has her teenage niece living with her. Lily played the niece's quirky best friend, who had a thing for large floppy hats and played the violin. Of course at some point they did the old 'hey, let's start a band' storyline where Lili's classical violin didn't fit in until she rocked it up a bit and started jammin'. I was kinda surprised when I first saw her name mentioned on the ecto list a while back, I went right out and got the CD and I like it a lot. Her playing is fantastic, and her voice is much better than I would have imagined from the squeaky voice she had on Gidget (of course she was much younger then though). (sspan)Not only yes, HELL YES! Lili Haydn is awesome! I almost heard her open up for Fates Warning in Seattle a year ago but I was standing outside waiting for my friend. I didn't know who she was but I could almost make out that something cool was happening. Then the same line up concert from Boston (or somewhere) was broadcast on the internet. I was impressed and even madder at my friend for making me miss such a good new act. Then I bought the CD and fell in love with her music. Then I bought several more copies as Christmas presents to give out. I look forward to any new recordings or performances by her with great anticipation! (ImJohn@worldnet.att.net)
Comments about live performance:
Last summer I was at the Page/Plant concert at the Gorge in WA state. I had no idea who was opening. GUESS WHO IT WAS????? Yup, it was LILI! I was so totally pleased!!!!! What a great show and the songs came off even more aggressive than on the CD. (ImJohn@worldnet.att.net)
Recommended first album:
Lili
Recordings:
- Lili (1997)
- Light Blue Sun (2003)
- Place Between Places (2008)
Lili
Release info:
1997—Atlantic Records—7567-83027-2
Availability:
Wide
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Lili Haydn—vocals, violin, programming, arrangements
Guest artists:
Geri Sutyak—cello
George Nakas—guitar
Frankie Blue—guitar, programming on "Take Somebody Home"
Corky James—guitar
Jeffrey Connor—bass
Toss Panos—drums
Harleigh Kibbee—keyboards, CS80, percussion
Paul Cantelon—piano on "Wants Deep"
Michael Severens—cello on "Someday"
Leroy Ball—bass on "Someday"
Chad Smith—drums on "Take Somebody Home"
Gabriel Rowland—drums on "Daddy"
Tim Boland—programming
Patrick Shevelin—programming
Static—programming on "Real"
Rahat Ali Khan—vocals on "Daddy"
Produced by:
Lili Haydn, Jeffrey Connor
Comments:
Actually, my opinion of this disc has cooled somewhat. I got it around the same time I got Caryn Lin's disc, another violin-based exploration, and I decided then that I preferred Lili's disc, since it reminded me at times of Never For Ever-era Kate Bush and early Happy Rhodes. However, although I still like the experimental aspect of Lili's album, I now find it a bit more "raucous" than I usually go for these days. I still think I prefer it to Caryn's album, however. I like it—better than I remember liking Rasputina, for what it's worth. The violin is used to good mood-defining effect, and Lili has a good Ecto-style voice. (Greg.Jumper@Eng.Sun.COM)I was actually disappointed with the CD...she was so much better live. There was so much more violin live, there's very little good parts on the CD, except for "Salome". (khighnight@ONLINE.EMICH.EDU)
I respectfully disagree. I *LOVE* the CD. I just stumbled across the phenomenal Lili Haydn and her CD Lili. I'm very excited to have made this discovery—an incredible CD!! I confess I bought the CD because of the cover!! Oh it is horrible to confess that!! The handful of times in my life that I've done that I've been—naturally—very disappointed. But the cover art of her CD Lili just really "spoke to me", as it were. I saw this striking artwork, and this woman holding a violin, and her look, and the style of the artwork, and the fact that she is—obviously—a violinist yet was in the "Rock" section at the record store just reached out and said, "I'm really unique—buy me!", so I did! I am just completely slayed by this CD.
I think "Wants Deep" is positively sumptuous. I think she is an artist I will want to follow throughout a (hopefully) long career. (loefflep@mis.finchcms.edu)Some of the album is too much for me (too hard rock, too experimental) but some of it I like very much, particularly the middle of the album, where the violin seems to stand out more, starting with "Salome" (track 4). I also really like the piano on "Wants Deep". She does have a lovely voice, especially on "Baby" (track 7), the harmonies on "no one, no one, no one can save her/but no one enslaves her, enslaves her" are just gorgeous. And her violin, which can be used to make sonorous, beautiful music, or disturbing, dissonant tones. A strong and complex album, a promising debut. (JoAnn Whetsell)
my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my my i am still recovering from my excitement, i've only listened to her for about two hours now but am TOTALLY HOOKED. she's a violinist extraordinaire who's played with No Doubt, Tom Petty, Jewel, Spinal Tap, Brandy, everyone pretty much! at 25 years old, she has released a debut. definite ecto-material. i think once people know about her ecto will be buzzing about her! she writes her own songs, ranging from teenage pregnancy to the faith lost with age. her voice, ranging from a soft, wispy BEAUTIFUL tone to a raging belt. such a great album. tons of beautiful violin and cello work but backed with drums, guitar, and piano. wonderful wonderful wonderful. (enzo1@idt.net)
Further info:
Lili Haydn appears on the 1997 Intel Creativity Software sampler, the 1998 Lilith Fair sampler, and songs of West Side Story, and her song "Come Here" is on the Anywhere But Here soundtrack. She has also played on albums by many different artists, including Tracy Chapman, Vonda Shepard, and Victoria Williams.
Thanks to JoAnn Whetsell for work on this entry.
