Marianne's Chillout Phase
Angelo Badalamenti is known for composing lush and haunting soundscapes that the Twin Peaks soundtrack and Julee Cruise emphasised so effectively in the past.Here his protege is none other than Ms.Faithfull,who gives his work yet another new direction.Combining bittersweet vocals with atmospheric and often gloomy tunes,Sleep,Flaming September,Losing and The Stars Line Up are chillingly beautiful. Marianne's torn voice tells us of despair and regret .The album's only sore point is The Wedding,which sounds rather irrelevant and out of place with the rest of the mood.On She,there's loneliness and self destruction while Bored By Dreams and Love In The Afternoon reconvey the gloom and sombre atmosphere. Overall if you're a fan of the whole Twin Peaks saga,then this album's a must.Just turn out the lights, pour a glass of wine and enjoy.
SAVED BY ONE SONG
I'm a great fan of Marianne's, but this album doesn't work for me. It's not that I don't like Badalamenti either - his work with Julee Cruise is great. But somehow the sound does not move me on any level. There's not enough variety, so it sounds like one long, atmospheric piece. It's difficult to make out individual songs and the mood is cold and aloof. Were it not for the one gripping track Losing, I would have awarded this album 2 stars. Losing, however, although very sad, has a gorgeous poetic quality with its divine melody and lyrics one can identify with. Definitely one of her greatest songs; what a pity that it's sort of lost on this failed experiment of an album.
A DIFFERENT MARIANNE IS ALSO A BRILLIANT MARIANNE
Marianne Faithfull is so different from most of the other female singers I listen to. She sings in a low growl, doesn't have much range, but can convey more emotion in her delivery than just about anyone. On "A Secret Life", she displays a more tender side to her voice which is complimented greatly by Angelo Badalamenti's lushly orchestrated compostions. Some may feel it's a bit too mellow, but it's every bit as emotional as anything else I've heard from her over the years. This is a woman who has been to Hell and back more than once and has the voice to prove it, but she never comes off as a victim. She has only been a victim of herself and she has pointed that out in many interviews. For me, the standout track is "She". It's haunting, almost show tune like melody coupled with her lyrics and delivery make for one of the most memorable and sad ballads ever to cross the path of my ears
a must-have
True, the lyrics are sometimes depressing and this CD will not make you funny... so what? Nothing is more boring than everlasting happiness.
Beautiful Music - Depressing Lyrics
"A Secret Life" is a successful marriage of contrast: the lush and beautiful orchestral compositions of Angelo Badalamenti are interwoven with Faithfull's rough and raspy delivery. "Prologue" introduces the listener to Faithfull's not so secret life of alcohol and drugs. "Sleep" is foreboding - tales of loneliness and regret follow. The unfaithful wife makes "Love In The Afternoon" and depression is replaced by danger in "Losing." So filled with sorrow are "She," and "Losing" that they leave the listener with the pain of a knife being thrust into the heart.Not all of "A Secret Life" is so dark. "Bored By Dreams" (with its pounding rhythms and staccato strings) is uplifting, and "The Stars Line Up" shows some hope for romantic companionship. The problem with Badalamenti's compositions is a lack of diversity: the music is too similar. The only attempt to liven the score fails miserably. The funky dance tempo of "The Wedding" has no place on this disc.
Faithfull deserves credit for risking a 180 degree about face after her last successful release. Get mellow, pour yourself a whiskey neat, and join Faithfull in her "Secret Life." You may just want to stay awhile.
Mid-price Spectrum reissue of her 1995 album unavailable in the US.
