Utopia

Gwennos fourth album, Utopia, continues the trend of her previous work, Tresor, in muting the giddy stratosphere of the first two albums in favor of a more contemplative, introspective approach. While that record still utilized electronics as the backbone of the sound, here she and co-producer Rhys Edwards make much more use of more traditional instruments, namely piano, though there are also lots of guitars, live drums, and strings. It shifts between spare arrangements that allow Gwennos voice to be the focus (like on "73" and "Y Gath") to more dramatic, drastic settings that go beyond anything shes done previously. The track "War" is a prime example of that approach as it pits a piano and Gwennos voice against all sorts of sweeping sounds generated by keyboards and what sounds like a string section playing their instruments in a windstorm. Other tracks on the record take a similar tack, and its fascinating to hear her reaching for almost Bad Seeds- or PJ Harvey-ian heights. The ambition is laudable, and its nice how she balances that approach with the warmer and more down-to-earth singer/songwriter-inspired songs. Alongside these newer directions, there are some glimpses of the radiance Gwenno exhibited previously, especially on the sprightly, "Dancing on Volcanoes," and her voice still sounds like it might float past the Earths atmosphere if she let go of the string. That said, the weight of remembrance and the very real things that come with living a real life tend to keep the record from lifting off. Thats not necessarily a bad thing, especially when the songs are as comforting and warm as those on Utopia. The emotions feel real, too, and thats maybe even more important. If all the fun and frolic is going to be stripped away, something tangible should be left in its place. There are plenty of feelings to chew on and things to think over on Utopia, and Gwenno and her team make it an enticing prospect rather than a daunting exercise in boring introspection or nostalgia. This is artistic progression, and while some might miss the old, more fun, version of Gwenno, the more mature and serious version isnt half bad. ~ Tim Sendra

ソロ作ではウェールズ語やコーンウォール語で歌ってきた元ピペッツのグウェノーが、初めて英語詞に挑んだ4作目。新たな一面を見せつつも、レトロでノスタルジックなムードは健在。グループ時代を思わせるキャッチーなポップ・ナンバーから甘美なバラードまで多彩な楽曲が並び、それぞれの完成度も非常に高い。キャリアを総括する最高傑作と言っていい。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二