Imogen Heap

As one of the artists who have fully understood and embraced the digital age and the potential of communication with her audience – and the direct involvement of them – Imogen Heap has generated a veritable storm of news, opinion and comment about her music.
Grammy nominations, documentaries and soundtracks to hugely successful TV programs have come her way as well as plaudits for her albums and projects but all of this can be considered smoke when your humble reviewer is trying to give an honest opinion of her new album. Setting aside all you know about an artist in order to concentrate on their music is never easy but it is crucial so here goes.

Frankly, this is superb. Every number here has an identity of its own but there is an overall sound that really has no direct or obvious influences but manages to incorporate elements that seem to come from far and wide.
‘bad Body Double’ has a little of the feel of Lily Allen but without the hackneyed coquettishness while ‘Aha’ has touches of R&B as well as huge drama and dynamics. The piano on ‘Fire’ seems to hang in midair, the notes appearing like little raindrops – no melody or rhythm but utterly compelling – but the vocal gymnastics of ‘Earth’ are all about rhythm and the poetry of imagery.
All through the album the simple musicality and gentle production brings you, the listener, close in to the music and the variety of instruments and styles keeps the mind in a constant whirl.

13 tracks and from the first notes of ‘First Train Home’ to the very last knockings of ‘Half Life’ every one is essential and completely convincing.
If you can put aside any of the preconceptions that you hold about Imogen Heap and listen to ‘Ellipse’ as an entity in its own right you are going to find an absolute gem.