use only in absence of mediocrity
If you never saw Garden State (as I still haven’t, honestly) or if you never heard the whispered, underground raves regarding Frou Frou, you have been missing out on the voice of Imogen Heap. Fantastic name (gives me a fantastic memory) but a divine vocal prowess.
The album by Frou Frou had a catchy electro-pop drive but tossed in an effectual song of meaning. Every track had a hint of this underlying passion and provocative force that was never named, but was clearly hidden within the expanse of Imogen’s vocals. Her tone is poignant and instantly recognizable. That’s why, upon hearing this new single, I had one of those where-have-I-heard-that-before moments, and then quickly realized the lead of Frou Frou’s name is Imogen Heap.
Imogen Heap. The name itself doesn’t seem to set off bells or attract undivided attention, at least nowhere near as intensely as “Max Power” or “Optimus Prime”. But the unassuming nature of the name is so mirror to fervor invoked by her song. She releases a full-length album in September, but for now we are left with this hint of good things to come. The single, “Hide and Seek”, has the distinct markings that Frou Frou planted, but Imogen loses the pop facade and becomes a mistress to the depth of melodic beauty. This is the type of music you weep to, the type of music that highlights and hallmarks significant times in our lives.
Be warned: you may explode with emotion upon listening. Being serious, this is the best 99 cents I’ve spent since I purchased Darwin Chamber’s 30-minute long “3D Thunderstorm Environment“. Unless you’ve heard the Chamber track, I’ll simply my message and state “Imogen Heap is phenomenal”.
A side note, in addition, I am going to Boston this summer. Oh yes. Uhuh. Yes.
June 1st, 2005 at 9:19 pm
Ryan,
Ever listen to any Christian music, particularly rap? Or, are you into a little Macarena?
June 1st, 2005 at 9:23 pm
There are three ways to do things: the right way, the wrong way, and the Max Power way.
Isn’t that just the wrong way?
Yes, but faster!
June 1st, 2005 at 9:24 pm
Oh, and thanks for the music link. It shall be mine.
June 1st, 2005 at 9:28 pm
Mmm, I like Frou Frou a lot. Too bad the Imogen track’s not in the Canadian iTMS yet. Sigh.
BTW, I believe it’s “phenomenal”, not “phenominal”.
June 1st, 2005 at 10:16 pm
Camden - I do not listen to the Macarena, and have not since I danced to it in middle school gym class. Yes, we danced in gym, to other music as well.
Adam - Very glad you caught the reference, it makes my night complete.
Stew - Thank you for the spelling check; I always appreciate the correctness.
June 2nd, 2005 at 12:30 pm
Ryan,
That was, and still is one of my top dances… I’ve got a photo of me at a middle school dance Macarena-ing. Can you imagine?… someone with cerebral palsy doing the Macarena?… I guess the Macarena is about as popular as good ole’ AM radio.
June 2nd, 2005 at 4:00 pm
My kid will be named Imogen Harne. I mean, since you’re my appointed babymaker and all….
But what I really meant to say was don’t bother seeing Garden State. If you have any kind of refined taste in movies, you’ll find it lacking. Trust me.
June 2nd, 2005 at 11:54 pm
i agree with laken
garden state was tres lame
i heart huckabees was much better
maybe because there was no natalie portman….
June 3rd, 2005 at 9:56 am
Garden State was well put-together, but was too postmodern to be of any real interest as entertainment. There’s only so much “life stinks so let’s just accept it and have fun, live fast, and die young” you can take. Obviously Zach Braff thought so, too, because he tacked a cop-out sappy ending onto it.
June 3rd, 2005 at 12:26 pm
I just wanted to say that your picture is quite smokin’.
June 3rd, 2005 at 8:39 pm
Rianna - Do you mean that the Photoshopping I did to it looks good? Or that, with the spider web overlay, I am suddenly slightly attractive?
Everyone - These opinions for Garden State make me want to see it regardless of how much I [dis]like it. It caused a considerable stir of notice when it was released, so it must have some value or quality.
June 4th, 2005 at 1:32 am
I was referring to the look on your face.
June 5th, 2005 at 1:21 pm
I thought Garden State was great and one of the best movies of 2004. The soundtrack is great, too. So, Ryan, I hope you are able to enjoy your viewing experience, regardless. I enjoyed it much more than I Heart Huckabees, anyway. (Sorry, Abigail)
April 11th, 2007 at 1:37 am
[...] *Phew* I’m glad to have that off my chest. Now, in an attempt to reclaim a slight bit of dignity, I’ll also recommend Hide and Seek (also an iTMS video) by Imogen Heap. Ryan recommended it a couple weeks ago, and I’m strongly seconding. The best way I can describe the song is that it’s being sung by a chorus of tiny melodic robots. If it weren’t for the heavy processing on Imogen’s voice, the song would be pretty much acappella. It’s a stunningly beautiful tune. [...]