"Dive" opens with a track of the same name, briefly mentioning how the whales rule the ocean. Then it bursts into the ethereal pop (the puzzling but pretty "Captain Nemo," the gauzy "Siren" and poignant "Second Element"), fluting techno and electronica (the coyly sexy "Once in a Lifetime" and flittery "La Mer"), and solid. The biggest misfires are the animal-rights ode "Johnny Wanna Live," and the grating "By Now."

Somewhere inside the waterlogged "Dive" is a beautiful album. But it's buried under sand and driftwood. Brightman deftly evokes the fluidity of water and the seas in much of the album, with flowing electronic and acoustic music and soft vocals. Then she loads it with an old sailor talking about frozen corpses, heavy percussion, and musical minimalism.

Sarah Brightman's voice is a beautiful thing. It can soar, whisper, and get as high and light as a sunbeam. "Salty Dog" simply has Brightman singing uncertainly with almost no background music. She doesn't sound like she's entirely sure what she's doing. However, in songs like "Island," the exquisite "Second Element," and the underrated "When it Rains In America," Brightman's voice is given the room and rhythm to work its magic.

Were "Dive" stripped of the grittier seafaring stuff, it would be a truly exquisite musical (and nautical) experience. As it is, it's rather soggy, but two thirds of it sparkle like the Caribbean.

Dive Into
I bought this CD on a whim, having been a fan of Brightman and her clear coloratura soprano since her "Phantom" days. I loved her show tunes and arias but found it difficult to listen to them for hours -- NOT so with "Dive." Within an hour of receiving this CD, I was absolutely hooked. "Dive" is by far Brightman's best -- and most personal -- work. The entire CD paints a hypnotic portrait in colors grey, blue and green, a world seen through water -- sweet, bright, sensual, deftly layered music. Brightman gets the chance to play mermaid while showing off her pop roots (and after this I wish she'd return more often), and her sweet, clear voice and emotional delivery combine with the song-to-song flow of the album to make it a must-repeat experience. I've been playing it for a week straight and can't get enough. Every single track is a jewel, from the haunting title track, to the beautiful intricacy of "Second Element" or the sexy sensuality of "Once in a lifetime." A must for listeners to such diverse artists as Enya, Kate Bush, Enigma, or even Mike Oldfield.
I recommend this disc to anyone who loves Brightman. I feel this is her best disc. The most touching performance and the sound is great.

Dive
Okay, this is Sarah's first pop album. I've read all these other reviews and it virtually beckons me to write one too. Alright, so Sarah Brightman started her music career off with Hot Gossip and had her hit techno/dance song "I lost my heart to a starship trooper" which is an incredibly good song. That was her beginning, I mean yes she was raised singing classical/showtunes and dancing ballet but she started off with pop. After her Andrew Lloyd Webber age, she moved on to this and "Fly" with her boyfriend Peterson (who is phenomenally talented). Really, "dive" is a pop song with an aquatic theme, the lyrics are not very well done but they are pleasant and are not meant to be analyzed but rather to seep into your mind as you listen to this hauntinly beautiful music. This CD is definitely worth buying, every song is awesome especially La Mer (techno), Once in a Lifetime, and Second Element. This just proves yet again that SB can do any genre. She is my favorite vocalist and may be one of the greatest that has ever lived. She can do anything: opera (nessun dorma, doretta's dream, dvorak's silver moon (luna)), classical (alleluja, time to say goodbye), pop (second element, once in a lifetime, you take my breath away), pseudoclassical (no one like you), spanish songs (tu quieres volver, naturaleza muerta, tu, hijo de la luna), musical theatre (think of me, her entire "Songs that Got Away CD", Memory (in italian), rock/alt (how can heaven love me). She rules, she can even do hip hop (I loved you) and jazz (mr. monotony, macavity). She is by far covering every genre with incredible vocal agility and ease. She is a coloratura soprano opera singer, a chest voice alto in pop, and a ethereal soprano on anything else. Buy this CD, you won't regret it. Thanx.
It was The Phantom of the Opera that first drew me to her music, and La Luna that convinced me that she had a lot more to offer. Having had both La Luna and Harem before Dive, I was at first sceptical, but nonetheless eagre to try. I was not disappointed! Took a bit getting used to, but after the third time, I was thoroughly hooked by the glorious lyrics and the marvelous melodies that have become her trademark, IMHO! The theme strategy works fine and gives the album a cohesion that takes you on a journey, down into the sea and upon it! It is another magnificent effort by one of the world's most gifted artists!

Encore!
Budget price collection from Spectrum. 15 tracks. 1993.