Comments on: The new Imogen Heap album: Ellipse http://colortheory.com/imogenheap electronic indie piano pop Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:45:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Imogen Heap "Tidal" from Ellipse gets mastering love http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-223 Imogen Heap "Tidal" from Ellipse gets mastering love Mon, 19 Oct 2009 02:59:52 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-223 [...] Color Theory observations – "The mastering is driving me crazy though! The dynamics are not only lost, they’re reversed." [...] [...] Color Theory observations – "The mastering is driving me crazy though! The dynamics are not only lost, they’re reversed." [...]

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-206 Brian Hazard Sat, 19 Sep 2009 21:30:23 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-206 Thanks for stopping by Torley! My impression is that the volume of the album is on par with most these days. On the other hand, "Speak For Yourself" is quite conservative and sounds wonderful to my ears. So to my way of thinking, this is a step backwards. It's always nice to find a fellow practician of the 80/20 rule! I can appreciate some of the detail work on headphones, but it's more something that I note with interest rather than connecting with musically. Thanks for stopping by Torley!

My impression is that the volume of the album is on par with most these days. On the other hand, “Speak For Yourself” is quite conservative and sounds wonderful to my ears. So to my way of thinking, this is a step backwards.

It’s always nice to find a fellow practician of the 80/20 rule! I can appreciate some of the detail work on headphones, but it’s more something that I note with interest rather than connecting with musically.

]]> By: Torley http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-205 Torley Sat, 19 Sep 2009 02:37:38 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-205 Ooh! Connections: * I came here searching for "imogen heap" "mastering". I haven't noticed the volume mismatching as much — then again, I have hyperacusis. But, the album is overall mastered relatively soft compared to other contemporary records I have. This surprised me, but if Immi consciously signed off on it, save for what Brian noted above, then that could be one step in the right direction vs. the Loudness Wars. * As for the rest of her musical content, there's a lot of beautiful melodies. Imogen is on-the-record about being meticulous re: her arrangements. But, I think that sometimes falls into the 80/20 (90/10) rule, time-wise. I read an Electronic Musician interview in which she sounded like she spent copious amounts of time doing, say, the beatboxing on Earth. Or crafting delays and removing sibilance MANUALLY instead of a warm reverb. But, I really can't tell — and if subtlety's the point, that's the goal, but compared to something like BT's audible stutter-edit production, I was expecting more ear candy. * I like Thesis theme very much too. :) * I'm familiar with Color Theory because of a Depeche Mode cover I heard awhile ago! Took awhile for that to surface but AHA! So, pleased to be here, and keep being creative! Ooh! Connections:

* I came here searching for “imogen heap” “mastering”. I haven’t noticed the volume mismatching as much — then again, I have hyperacusis. But, the album is overall mastered relatively soft compared to other contemporary records I have. This surprised me, but if Immi consciously signed off on it, save for what Brian noted above, then that could be one step in the right direction vs. the Loudness Wars.

* As for the rest of her musical content, there’s a lot of beautiful melodies. Imogen is on-the-record about being meticulous re: her arrangements. But, I think that sometimes falls into the 80/20 (90/10) rule, time-wise. I read an Electronic Musician interview in which she sounded like she spent copious amounts of time doing, say, the beatboxing on Earth. Or crafting delays and removing sibilance MANUALLY instead of a warm reverb. But, I really can’t tell — and if subtlety’s the point, that’s the goal, but compared to something like BT’s audible stutter-edit production, I was expecting more ear candy.

* I like Thesis theme very much too. :)

* I’m familiar with Color Theory because of a Depeche Mode cover I heard awhile ago! Took awhile for that to surface but AHA! So, pleased to be here, and keep being creative!

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-172 Brian Hazard Wed, 19 Aug 2009 22:26:54 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-172 I'm actually quite taken with her voice, yet I can understand why it might not work for everyone. There's a good chance that the volume mismatching is completely a product of the mastering. I've listened through the whole thing now, and think the album could be a little treasure for me if not for the technical issues. I’m actually quite taken with her voice, yet I can understand why it might not work for everyone. There’s a good chance that the volume mismatching is completely a product of the mastering. I’ve listened through the whole thing now, and think the album could be a little treasure for me if not for the technical issues.

]]> By: Tyler King http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-171 Tyler King Wed, 19 Aug 2009 21:59:56 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-171 Am I the only one who just finds her kind of annoying? Her voice has this extremely distinct cloying effect, like a piercing needle to the "KILL!" section of my brain. She was pretty good with Temposhark, but I have to agree with Brian, she is just emphasizing the wrong sections of her music. Am I the only one who just finds her kind of annoying? Her voice has this extremely distinct cloying effect, like a piercing needle to the “KILL!” section of my brain. She was pretty good with Temposhark, but I have to agree with Brian, she is just emphasizing the wrong sections of her music.

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-170 Brian Hazard Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:09:25 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-170 Now that would've been a treat! Now that would’ve been a treat!

]]> By: Christopher Lee http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-169 Christopher Lee Wed, 19 Aug 2009 00:24:22 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-169 When I first saw that on your website, I thought you produced/mastered it. When I first saw that on your website, I thought you produced/mastered it.

]]> By: Brian Hazard http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-168 Brian Hazard Tue, 18 Aug 2009 16:25:52 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-168 I had the pleasure of mastering "Last Train Home" for a publisher compilation a few months ago, and the dynamic issue struck me immediately. Some might think it's just something about streaming over the internet, but that's not it. Anyway, enough about that! Personally, I'm happy to listen to it just for the ear candy and the sound of her voice. I trust my brain will catch on to the arrangements in time. I've been following her Twitter feed, but only for a few months, and not enough to be familiar with the songs. After only hearing a few tracks once through, for all I know it could be her best work musically and lyrically. I agree that sometimes the lyrics can be a little silly (on the other hand, who am I to talk?). I can hear a little resemblance to Primitive Radio Gods, but nothing to go to court over. ;) I had the pleasure of mastering “Last Train Home” for a publisher compilation a few months ago, and the dynamic issue struck me immediately. Some might think it’s just something about streaming over the internet, but that’s not it. Anyway, enough about that!

Personally, I’m happy to listen to it just for the ear candy and the sound of her voice. I trust my brain will catch on to the arrangements in time. I’ve been following her Twitter feed, but only for a few months, and not enough to be familiar with the songs. After only hearing a few tracks once through, for all I know it could be her best work musically and lyrically. I agree that sometimes the lyrics can be a little silly (on the other hand, who am I to talk?).

I can hear a little resemblance to Primitive Radio Gods, but nothing to go to court over. ;)

]]> By: Arron Clague http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-161 Arron Clague Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:16:54 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-161 Oh just to add : first train sounds very suspicously like the primative radio gods to me ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LKVZ4NTfUc Oh just to add : first train sounds very suspicously like the primative radio gods to me ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LKVZ4NTfUc

]]> By: Arron Clague http://colortheory.com/imogenheap/comment-page-1#comment-160 Arron Clague Tue, 18 Aug 2009 07:13:37 +0000 http://colortheory.com/?p=1191#comment-160 Also have been looking forward to this : after a few years of bigging it up on her blogs etc, it not a masterpiece. I agree with Caius: it just rambles on like the worst parts of Speak for Yourself, but without the highlights. Only Last Train Home really does it for me. The lyrics are so introverted and contrived idea wise, it just sounds like someone who should get out more. You cant write every song about some insubstantial detail. Musically, I find its over staccato format boring after a couple of songs, and there is no development in the arrangements : bits of ear candy come and go, but aren't developed. And melody wise, you really cant just sing the root of each key and then add very synthetic sounding harmonies and expect it to sound interesting for very long, even if you cover it up by trying to to pull the rug out from under the listener with harsh cuts in arrangement as a distraction. So all in all, nice to listen to for a couple of minutes, but goes nowhere, does nothing, as they say in star trek: LOL. Also have been looking forward to this : after a few years of bigging it up on her blogs etc, it not a masterpiece. I agree with Caius: it just rambles on like the worst parts of Speak for Yourself, but without the highlights. Only Last Train Home really does it for me. The lyrics are so introverted and contrived idea wise, it just sounds like someone who should get out more. You cant write every song about some insubstantial detail.

Musically, I find its over staccato format boring after a couple of songs, and there is no development in the arrangements : bits of ear candy come and go, but aren’t developed. And melody wise, you really cant just sing the root of each key and then add very synthetic sounding harmonies and expect it to sound interesting for very long, even if you cover it up by trying to to pull the rug out from under the listener with harsh cuts in arrangement as a distraction.

So all in all, nice to listen to for a couple of minutes, but goes nowhere, does nothing, as they say in star trek: LOL.

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