Hed Kandi : Balearica Unplugged＜限定盤＞

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合計収録時間 : 00:47:35
The Hed Kandi label has dominated the chill-out compilation market ever since its first release, Nu Cool, way back in 1998, but Balearica Unplugged is the first time they've handed over the entire reigns to just one artist. Recorded with producer Tyrrell and Cafe del Mar regular Steve Miller (Afterlife), all 12 of its tracks are fronted by singer/saxophonist Laura Fowles, aka Lovely Laura, who has been a regular performer at the label's Sunset Strip club in Ibiza for several years. As its name suggests, it's a stripped-back affair featuring acoustic renditions of some of the biggest club classics to have graced the White Island over the past two decades, an intriguing concept which produces contrasting results. The likes of Empire of the Sun's "We Are the People" and Everything But the Girl's "Missing" are already based on sun-kissed acoustic riffs which work just as well out of context as they do in their original subtle electro form. But other than Calvin Harris' "I'm Not Alone," which is convincingly transformed into a percussive flamenco number, the club anthems which rely on anthemic stabbed strings, layered synths, and hypnotic beats don't appear to translate as well when given the sparse treatment. Deadmau5's "I Remember" and Friendly Fires' "Paris" feel strangely muted without their epic production; the more radical reworkings, such as a galloping waltz-like interpretation of MGMT's "Kids" and a Middle Eastern-style cover of Grace's "Not Over Yet" don't quite convince, while her take on Peggy Lee's "Why Don't You Do Right?" may be more respectful than the recent Gramophonedzie version but is equally less infectious. Ironically, it's the two tracks which don't quite adhere to the album's concept that turn out to be the highlights, a skank reggae retooling of Carly Simon's "Why," not exactly a notable floor-filler, and a Latino-tinged original composition, "Come with Me," which suggests Laura might be better off pursuing her own sound in the future. ~ Jon O'Brien