SLUG Contributor Limelight
September 3, 2015
Contributor Limelight: Dean O Hillis
There’s no bigger purveyor of new wave pop than SLUG’s own beloved music lover Dean O Hillis. As a manager of MODified Music in the ’90s, Hillis was Salt Lake’s ambassador of musique Britannica, from Morrissey to Pet Shop Boys to Saint Etienne. He began writing for SLUG nearly 15 years ago, and has contributed music reviews and world-class interviews that delight his idols—Alison Moyet, Erasure, Suzanne Vega, Sarah Cracknell and The Mynabirds (pg. 14) among them—with his complete knowledge and high esteem of their work. Beyond his encyclopedic understanding of pop music, Hillis is a cherished dog-walker, pet-sitter, Christmas lover and vegan who brings joy and smiles to humans and canines alike! Cheers, Dean!
Articles by contributor
Review: Zoot Woman – Star Climbing
Zoot Woman = Fischerspooner – Felix Da Housecat + Blur … read more
Review: Woman’s Hour – Conversations
Woman’s Hour = The Sundays + Cocteau Twins … read more
Review: Wild Belle – Isles
With an interesting mash-up of eclectic styles—including trip hop, reggae and ska—siblings Natalie and Elliot Bergman’s debut is equally unique. … read more
Review: Twinstar – The Sound Of Leaving
LA-based trio Twinstar is comprised of some talented musicians, especially main songwriter and vocalist Keith Joyner and his musical cohort Chris Candelaria, who came together after disbanding two bands most of us have probably never heard of before—Chihuahua and Revolux. … read more
Review: Tori Amos – Unrepentant Geraldines
Tori Amos = Rufus Wainwright + ‘70s-era Elton John … read more
Review: Them Are Us Too – Remain
Them Are Us Too = Cocteau Twins – My Bloody Valentine … read more
Review: Touche – It’s Fate
Apparently “singer” Alex Lilly and instrumentalist/vocalist Bram Inscore, who comprise this girl/boy LA duo, didn’t do their research when picking a name for their group. … read more
Review: The Mynabirds – Be Here Now
The Mynabirds = Tori Amos + Chrissie Hynde … read more
Review: The Mynabirds – Generals: Remixed
With its many great hooks and swagger, Laura Burhenn’s sophomore album under her Mynabirds moniker was a prime candidate for remixing, and the six choices here (expanded digitally from four available on vinyl) are well served. … read more
Review: The Devil’s In the Details – Saint Etienne’s “Home...
While not specifically a direct concept album like its two predecessors precisely—despite there being a recurring theme of suburbia and suburban life—Saint Etienne have taken some inspiration from their luminous back-catalog and reinvested it into their always stellar songcraft skills in “Home Counties.” … read more
Review: Suzanne Vega – Tales From The Realm Of The Queen...
“Black is the truth/of my situation/and for those of my station/In life/all other colors lie,” Vega ominously sings on the thrillingly catchy “I Never Wear White,” one of many highs on this, her eighth studio album. … read more
Review: Stephanie Croff – The Dream Is Gone
Stephanie Croff = Loreena McKennitt + Patty Griffin … read more
Review: St. Lucia
Virtual one-man band and Johannesburg native Jean-Philip Grobler’s joyous, self-titled EP is something of a small marvel. Following a relatively simple formula of classic beats, infectious melody and a positive vibe presently missing on most radio these days, he has crafted a group of six tracks that are both pleasant and refreshingly memorable. … read more
Review: Snowmine – Dialects
Sounding a bit like an unsigned 4AD band complete with moody, ethereal backgrounds, lush orchestrations and sometimes-coherent-sometimes-not vocals—the Brooklyn quintet certainly distances itself from its contemporaries by creating everything by hand. … read more
Review: Shiny Two Shiny – When the Rain Stops
Shiny Two Shiny = early Everything But The Girl + In The Garden–era Eurythmics … read more
Review: Sally Dige – Hard To Please
Sally Dige = Kelly Clarkson (or any Idol winner) – Dave Gahan … read more
Review: Rosie Lowe – Right Thing EP
Fresh from her recent guest stint on Lil Silva’s “No Doubt,” UK vocalist Lowe’s debut EP showcases a new and striking talent. … read more
Review: Pujol – Kludge
Pujol = The Ramones + Beck – Green Day … read more
Review: Pujol – Kisses (EP)
Pujol = Davie Byrne + Weezer … read more
Review: Polly Scattergood – Arrows
What a refreshing and novel concept for an album in 2013: songs of heart break and loneliness without any cloying traces of hip-hop or rapping on them. The very talented Scattergood bares her heart completely for her sophomore album and that young, … read more
Review: Potpourri Of Pearls – We Went to Heaven
A concept album of sorts—based on the fact that PoP’s lead singer Adam Brody’s 14th birthday coincided with the discovery of the unfortunate victims from the Heaven’s Gate cult—even if only loosely themed, makes for a bizarre sophomore release. … read more
Review: Pet Shop Boys – Electric
With so much EDM glutting up the market—and so much of it disposable—it is nice when artists in the know produce dynamic versions of it, as if saying, “This is how it can be done.” … read more
Review: Panama – Always EP
It is hard to categorize this Sydney-based quartet, fronted by the talents of the classically trained Jarrah McCleary, and having now listened to the original—and fairly mellow—versions of three tracks comprising this, their sophomore EP, I would say: “disco-lite.” … read more
Review: Museum Of Love – Self-Titled
Museum Of Love = Roxy Music – LCD Soundsystem … read more
Review: Never Sol – Under Quiet
Never Sol = Fiona Apple – Cat Power + Ennio Morricone … read more
Review: MS MR – Secondhand Rapture
It is something of a small miracle that the New York based duo of Lizzy Plapinger (she being the ‘ms’) and Max Hershenow (and he the ‘mr’) have made a rarity in today’s music world— a consistently solid debut record. … read more
Review: Morrissey – World Peace Is None Of Your Business
Morrissey = Anthony Newley + Frank Sinatra … read more
Review: Magic Man – Before The Waves
Magic Man = When In Rome + Howard Jones – B-52’s … read more
Review: Marianne Faithfull – Give My Love To London
Marianne Faithfull = Grace Jones + Tom Waits … read more
Review: Marshall Holland – And The Etceteras
One-man band Holland (this Bay–Area based maestro writes, produces, plays and sings everything himself) returns with a catchy, frequently funny and even poignant new record. … read more
Review: Manicanparty – The District EP
Manicanparty = The Cardigans + Phantogram … read more
Review: Line & Circle – Split Figure
Line & Circle = R.E.M. + Crowded House … read more
Review: Lisa Papineau – Blood Noise
Often using the softer register of her varied instrument, songs like “Dream The Wild,” “Early Spring” and “Rainmaker” partially sound whispered and ghostly. … read more
Review: Jeffrey Novak – Lemon Kid
One assumes that the unintentionally yet appropriately titled opener, “Endless Repetition,” sounds like a first-stage demo on purpose, or that the title track is really dreadful, despite the briefly creative drumming that it starts with. … read more
Review: Erasure – The Neon
Erasure = ’80s Sparks + OMD + Debbie Harry … read more
Single Review: The Go-Go’s – “Club Zero”
Green Day fronted by Marianne Faithfull – Bangles … read more
Local Reviews: Late Night Alumni
In the fast-paced world of electronica, it isn’t surprising that this is LNA’s fourth album since their 2005 debut, but rather, it is pleasantly shocking to hear how sleek it sounds, especially for an SLC-based outfit. Arguably, this is because well-known DJ and local-adopted son Ryan Raddon (aka Kaskade) is the mastermind behind the sound, but vocalist Becky Jean Williams—whose little-girl cooing is perfect for this genre—more than holds her own. … read more
Local Review: The Piano Guys – Wonders
The Piano Guys = Richard Clayderman – Yanni … read more
Local Review: Robyn Cage – Tales Of A Thief /...
Robyn Cage = (Florence + the Machine) + Lana Del Rey – Fiona Apple … read more
Local Review: Rare Facture – Light In The Dark
Rare Facture Light In The Dark Self-Released Street: 06.30 Rare Facture = OMD + Depeche Mode Here’s a novel notion, local musos: study and learn the genre you’re interested in until it becomes your passion—if not your love—then go and make an album. Seemingly without pretension, local synth duo Tom Cella and David Burdick have
Local Review: Rare Facture – Suspension of the Conscious Mind
Rare Facture = Anything Box + Dream Academy … read more
Local Review: MiNX – Golden
Living up to their reputation as one of SLC’s more prolific bands, vocalist/rapper Ischa B. and multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Raffi Shahinian return after last year’s MixTape with an album of nine new tracks. … read more
Review: Geoff Westen – I’m Not Crazy
Geoff Westen = Oingo Boingo + The Cars – David Byrne … read more
Review: Gardens & Villa – Dunes
Much like their eponymous 2011 debut, the new Gardens & Villa album frequently combines lead singer and guitarist Chris Lynch’s flute playing with the synths of Adam Rasmussen that recalls the early-’80s styling of this amalgam, with mostly successful results. … read more
Review: Erasure – World Beyond
Erasure = Sparks + Communards + Kronos Quartet
… read more
Review: Dutch Uncles – O Shudder
Dutch Uncles = Scritti Politti + XTC … read more
Review: D.A.R.K. – Science Agrees
D.A.R.K. = Right Said Fred – B-52’s … read more
Review: case/lang/veirs – Self-titled
case/lang/veirs = Parton/Ronstadt/Harris + Buckingham/Nicks/McVie
… read more
Review: Chad Valley – Young Hunger
Sounding too much like an 80’s act resolvedly stuck in the 80’s–save the occasional auto-tune tweaking–one man band Hugo Manuel (of Jonquil) has a silky smooth and very high-pitched falsetto, which he can impressively drop a few octaves down effortlessly. … read more
Review: Cape Snow – Self-Titled
Cape Snow = Cowboy Junkies – Mazzy Star … read more
Review: Björk – Vulnicura
Björk = Kate Bush – Portishead … read more
Review: Beth Orton – Kidsticks
Beth Orton = Tracey Thorn + PJ Harvey
… read more
Review: ANNE – Pulling Chain
While the invisible line that often divides musical subgenres sometimes requires a stretch of the imagination, Portland-based ANNE (aka David Lindell) has completely jumped the shoegazer one it inherited for a decidedly electronic gothy one, on this, their “proper” debut. … read more
Review: Alison Moyet – The Minutes
Usually, it takes the first phrasing from Moyet’s lips to hook me into a specific song, but as Guy Sigworth’s elegant electronics start on “Horizon Flame,” it is apparent that something exciting is at play. … read more
Review: Alison Moyet – Live At Bush Hall & Changeling...
A simple, clean take of “When I Was Your Girl” reminds us what a dynamic live singer Moyet is, while a gorgeously delicate reading of “Filigree”—sans backing vocals—is not to be missed. … read more
Review: Alison Moyet – minutes and seconds – Live
Alison Moyet = Janis Joplin + Dusty Springfield … read more
Review: Aimee Mann – Mental Illness
Aime Mann = Nick Drake + Bread – James Taylor … read more
Pet Shop Boys’ Super: We’re Gonna Burn This Disco Down!
Ever the purveyors of sophisticated dance music, Pet Shop Boys’ Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe return to show us why 35 years in they not only have the goods, but are still thrillingly active in pioneering the sound that made them famous. … read more
Review: “I’m Always Listening” – Alison Moyet’s Other
The seraphic-voiced legend Alison Moyet released her latest track “Other” on June 16 on Cooking Vinyl before starting her North American tour. … read more
Gotta Get You Back to You: Tori Amos’ Native Invader
The political stance on Native Invader recalls 2007’s fiery American Doll Posse, especially its pointed political songs “Yo George,” “Code Red” and “Posse Bonus.” … read more
“We Made A Miracle”: Erasure – World Be Gone
World Be Gone proves that the Clarke and Bell duo—rivetingly—still has much more to say. How lucky the pop world is for that! … read more
Local Reviews: Highway 6
Highway 6 is comprised of daughter/father singer-songwriters Heidi and Tom Nedreberg, and Love Songs To The Desert marks their self-released debut. As far as local CDs and music go, it is quite accomplished and polished. Unfortunately, it is also a little too country for my ears, which makes it hard for me to review objectively, but I’ll try. … read more
Local Reviews: Citizen Fate
Local CDs are always a mixed bag. 95 percent of the time they suck, and once in a while they 100 percent suck. Unfortunately for my ears, Citizen Fate fell immediately into the latter category. … read more
Local Reviews: Brian Bingham
Oh local artists, dare to dream! I don’t really buy into the notion that everyone dreams of being a rock star, yet far too many local artists seem to see themselves this way. Local singer/songwriter Brian Bingham seems to have been bitten by this grand illusion bug and instead of simply singing in his own voice, does that very annoying American Idol audition trick where he tries to sing as though someone else. … read more
Local Reviews: Shift & Shadows
Shift & Shadows are another local band that can’t quite decide who they are musically. Self-described as “indie funk rock” on their Facebook page, their music is at times both funky and rock oriented, while vocally and lyrically they are severely malnourished. … read more
Quoting The Best Bits: Pet Shop Boys @ The Complex...
Pet Shop Boys always deliver the goods, and they adapted their latest set (gleaned partially from their recent, excellent Super album) to The Complex’s smallish stage successfully with their talent and charm and simply gave the crowd what they wanted: great dance and pop tunes in dynamic new arrangements. … read more
Local Reviews: Idyll Rigamarole
It is hard to criticize music by a local “teen-run” record label, but I’ll do my best. All local artists should take note: Every artist is a local artist where they came from. That doesn’t mean they should be making records. With a name that would surely get them kicked out from even busking in Sherwood Forest, Idyll Rigamarole describes their sound as “medieval groove folk” on their Facebook page. … read more
Review: A MusiCares Tribute To: Carole King
Let’s face it: a tribute concert to a legend is only equal to the sum of its various—or in this case, its various artists’—parts, and this is certainly an interesting and eclectic mix, from a range of musical genres coming together to honor the great singer/songwriter. … read more
Local Reviews: Bellrave
Local dance musician Allison Martin continues her quest to become the resident queen of the disco scene. Her latest project—a collaboration with Allister Marx, under new moniker Bellrave—certainly takes her one step closer. … read more
Laura Burhenn: Lovers Know Extended Interview
In the big wild world of modern music—so presently overcrowded with equal parts would-be artists and sub-genres—it is often the truly talented that get buried and overlooked. … read more
The Mynabirds’ Laura Burhenn: I’ll Paint the Ponies
The Mynabirds’ Laura Burhenn wants to sing you a love song on new album Lovers Know. – SLUG Mag … read more
Shake Your Head Yes: The Mynabirds – Lovers Know
In the few years between The Mynabirds’ debut and its convoking follow-up, Generals, Laura Burhenn has honed her voice to a lovely sheen. … read more
Local Review: MiNX
The chameleon-like duo of Ischa Bee and Raffi Shahinian are definitely trying to make an impression on our local music scene. With a staggering 45 free tracks available to download from their website (minxband.com), they are certainly one of the most prolific. … read more
Pet Shop Boys – Pandemonium CD/DVD Review
When The Pet Shop Boys first toured in 1989, it was a decidedly unique event. The end result was a complete eschewal of the traditional rock concert format, instead incorporating a theatrical approach with stunning visuals, multiple costume changes and the songs themselves being presented as themed concepts complete with filmed backdrops. They have continually expanded on this formula, creating a show that is both visually incredible and undeniably memorable. … read more
Madonnaʼs Celebration Video
“Celebration” is punctuated by very quick shots interlaced together, culminating in a gathering/party of the dancers of her recently wrapped “Sticky & Sweet Tour.” Madonna, of course, is center stage throughout.
On Meeting the Pet Shop Boys
Meeting a favorite artist or band can be a religious experience. One is given that rare chance to grab an autograph, a picture with their idols, a chance to tell that artist how much their music has meant to them, or just the opportunity to smile/wave/gawk at them. When my long-time favorites Pet Shop Boys announced their Fall “Pandemonium” tour with a chance to purchase a “VIP Meet and Greet” package, I jumped at the opportunity. … read more
Aimee Mann @ The State Room
Aimee Mannʼs music is comforting, melodic, beautiful and despite the unfortunate and incorrect critical tag line of it being “depressing,” (I would have chosen “realistic” if I wrote reviews back in those days) very uplifting. I was extremely excited about seeing her live for the first time, in a new venue (the great new The State Room), and especially in such an intimate setting: The State Room boasts a capacity of 300. … read more
Tori Amos – Midwinter Graces review
I can think of no greater feat than a Christmas/Holiday album helping to get you in the mood for the forthcoming holidays in October. If ever a modern artist was suited for recording a holiday/seasonal album, it must be Tori Amos. … read more
Erasure – The Innocents 21st Anniversary Review
Most people that know my musical taste know that I’m a huge Erasure fan. In fact, I would say it is an honest assessment of my fandom to state that Erasure is probably my favorite band of all time. Twenty-one years after its release, one of Vince Clarke and Andy Bell’s greatest albums has definitely stood the test of time. … read more
Pet Shop Boys Christmas EP Review
The Pet Shop Boys Christmas EP reviewed by Dean O Hillis. … read more
Suzanne Vega – Love Songs Review
I remember the first time I ever heard Suzanne Vega: It was late in the Spring of 1985 and my childhood friend Emily would play Vega’s eponymous debut in her VW Beetle’s tape deck as we drove around the Salt Lake valley. I quickly became enamored with this album and especially Vega’s perceptive lyrics and her pretty, clear voice. At that time there was no one else quite like her. … read more
Pet Shop Boys – Pandemonium CD/DVD Review
When The Pet Shop Boys first toured in 1989, it was a decidedly unique event. The end result was a complete eschewal of the traditional rock concert format, instead incorporating a theatrical approach with stunning visuals, multiple costume changes and the songs themselves being presented as themed concepts complete with filmed backdrops. They have continually expanded on this formula, creating a show that is both visually incredible and undeniably memorable. … read more
Mynabirds – What We Lose In The Fire.. Review
It’s not often that I stumble upon a new talent that overwhelms me, but when I do I want to share it with everyone that I know. When I received The Mynabirds’ debut, the heavenly What We Lose In The Fire We Gain In The Flood to review back in February, I was first intrigued by the title and then absolutely blown away by the sound. … read more
Andy Bell – Non-Stop review
While comparisons to his active role as one half of Erasure are inevitable (they’d have to be) Andy Bell—one of the world’s most underrated vocalists—has captured the magic on his second solo album, the sublime Non-Stop. The secret here, besides Bell’s ability to always create a hummable chorus, is his willingness to experiment with his vocals. … read more
The Mynabirds and The Art Of Losing Oneself
When any artist finds their defining sound it is a moment of revelation as much as it is a celebration. Laura Burhenn, singer/songwriter extraordinaire and one of the hardest working artists in recent memory seems to have found both in her great and critically acclaimed project The Mynabirds, and the world is musically a better place for it. … read more
k.d. lang and the Siss Boom Bang – Sing It...
There is nothing better than hearing k.d. lang wrap that heavenly voice around brand new material, and the ease of how she works so seamlessly with a great band only makes this fantastic album that much more pleasurable. … read more
Pet Shop Boys: Together, Battleship Potemkin & Concrete reviews
As troubling as I find the dying out of US physical CD singles, this is actually not the first release that the Pet Shop Boys have experimented with in the digital format—the singles from their last album were only available digitally in the US. I won’t lament too much on this, as the web has brought availability and accessibility to us all—especially since I procured the singles as a standard British CD single set last November, as I’m sure many US fans did. … read more
Beauty And The Beat At 30: Go-Go’s Jane Wiedlin Interview
I recently chatted with Jane about the tour and the anniversary of one of the finest and most legendary debuts in pop history. It was the first album completely written and performed by an all-female band to top the Billboard charts, where it remained for an astounding consecutive six-week reign. A feat, incidentally, never reached before or since. … read more
Kate Bush Director’s Cut: The Thrill And The Hurting
Imagine my surprise several months ago to find that s new album entitled Director’s Cut was forthcoming from Kate Bush. I was extremely intrigued to learn that this new release was a reworking of eleven previously released Kate Bush songs. Bush has retained her favorite parts of these tracks and completely re-recorded the drums and vocals so they more reflect her original vision. … read more
Erasure Tomorrow’s World: The Sound of the Future, Today
I was graciously given a review copy of their brand new album, entitled Tomorrow’s World. It has been an interesting juxtaposition to hear these early recordings compared to their brand new music for 2011 … read more
Kate Bush – 50 Words For Snow review
Performing one of the year’s greatest musical achievements—releasing not one but two varied and nearly perfect records—would be daunting for any artist, but when that artist is Kate Bush the announcement of a second release within six months seemed nearly to good to be true. But as the details of 50 Words for Snow were tantalizingly revealed, this dream notion was very much a reality. … read more
The Opiates- Hollywood Under The Knife & Rainy Days and...
A long time in the making, the Opiates full-length debut, Hollywood Under The Knife, was worth every single second of wait time. With a world-weary truth—the album’s mostly female protagonists emerge song by song with their faults and weaknesses laid bare for the listener. As the album works its magic and emblazons itself upon the listener’s brain, this ultra-sophisticated concept album triumphs as one of this year’s finest releases. … read more
The Opiates – Hollywood Cuts: The Remixes Review
There’s always something to be said of a great remix and what it can do to transform a song—from reverent ballad to tits-out club stomper—and how it can revitalize or even reinvent a release. One of my favorite albums of last year was easily Hollywood Under the Knife, released under dance diva extraordinaire Billie Ray Martin’s great Opiates moniker. I was excited by the notion of a new full-length remix album, but didn’t expect to be so blown away by it. … read more
The Revolution Starts Now: The Mynabirds’ Generals
When the hypnotic, big beats and power guitar riffs of the Mynabirds’ “Generals”—the first single and also, incidentally, the title track of Laura Burhenn’s sophomore effort—were introduced in February, I was immediately excited by the possibility of a promised new sound. … read more
My Quality Minutes with Alison Moyet
It was wonderful news when Alison Moyet announced she was going to release a new album (the minutes) this year, and an even bigger surprise when it charted so highly in the UK charts (at Number Five, her second-highest-charting studio album there since 1987’s Raindancing to be precise)—a remarkable feat for any artist, especially one who hasn’t released new material in seven years and more specifically—in what remains a sexist industry—a woman. … read more
National CD Reviews – December 2009
This month’s national reviews feature releases from Asobi Seksu, Beak>, Dead To Me, Evangelista, The Mary Onettes, The Prodigy, The Rakes, Skeletonwitch, Slayer and many more. … read more
Local Reviews: My Dead Ego
It is hard to get excited about reviewing something that comes with very little information about it. While promos come in a variety of formats, most of them include a teeny bit of background. So—other than a cover art print, and that this EP’s three tracks were handwritten on its CDR alongside the name Allison Martin—the only thing to do was start listening to it. And what a pleasant surprise it was—if not a slight shock—from a local CD. … read more
“Hark! The Herald(ed) Angel Sings”: Review of Erasure’s Snow Globe
For Erasure fans, a full-on Christmas album has always been something of a dream. Now that the concept of an entire holiday album is a reality for their 15th full-length album, the results show it has been well worth the wait. … read more
Morrissey @ Kingsbury Hall 05.16 with Kristeen Young
While I loathe to bring it up, friends, there is a darker side of appreciation and collecting too, one that reared its nasty head when this icon and hero of mine cancelled his 2012 and 2013 tours, that had already been scheduled then cancelled then rescheduled and not once, but twice. Sometimes it takes an absence to be reminded why we love someone so much—clichéd as that sounds, it did make my heart grow fonder for the man. … read more
“The Love Gets Higher …” Erasure’s “The Violet Flame” Reviewed
I take it as a positive portent that the day I received the new Erasure album promo to review, I was on an obsessive cycle of listening to its first single, the anthemic “Elevation.” … read more
For Whom The (Violet) Bell Tolls: In Conversation with Erasure’s...
With Erasure presently on an increasingly sold-out international tour, I had the humbling pleasure of speaking to Bell before their highly anticipated return to the Capitol Theatre on Wednesday, Oct. 29. … read more
Rapture and Fascination: Erasure @ Capitol Theatre 10.29
Bell truly sounds magnificent and it is something watching him perform in person. One of our generation’s best blue-eyed soul singers, his technical voice is a marvel. Taking another unexpected curve, Clarke starts up the dark engines of Tomorrow’s World’s bitchy “I Lose Myself,” and Bell looks like he’s having a blast singing it. … read more
A Melody – A Chord – A Lyric: A Conversation...
When I think of the music of Suzanne Vega, my brain conjures up vivid images of characters, time both past and present, destinations traveled, dreams dreamt and sometimes, those yet to be experienced. … read more
Review: Tori Amos – Little Earthquakes & Under The Pink...
I must be a record company marketer’s wet dream: I always buy into the concept of the remaster and, more often than not, the “deluxe” part—which is usually b-sides or remixes that had previously only been released on vinyl, and sometimes previously unreleased material. … read more
Sarah Cracknell: Flying Kites in Sylvan Skies
Sarah Cracknell, the glamorous chanteuse of the iconic British indie band Saint Etienne, has always possessed one of pop’s most incandescent and shimmering voices, capable of eliciting euphoria against a synth-driven beat; heartbreak over a strummed guitar; melancholia and longing over the varied electronic and stripped down sounds the band—now in its astounding 25th year—has experimented with over the years; but, above all else, a simple charm. … read more