Affichage des articles dont le libellé est Kylie Minogue. Afficher tous les articles
Affichage des articles dont le libellé est Kylie Minogue. Afficher tous les articles
lundi 2 février 2015
samedi 17 janvier 2015
"Kiss Me Once" de Kylie Minogue, post-mortem d'un bon album sous-exploité
Promis, en 2015, je vais revenir poster sur mon blog et pour commencer, j'a décidé de revenir sur les albums dont j'avais eu l'intention de faire une critique sans jamais en prendre le temps, bien qu'en plus ils aient fini dans mes meilleurs albums de 2014... Kiss me once de Kylie pour commencer...
Sorti en Mars, Kiss me once est le 12ème album studio de Kylie MInogue mais le premier après Aphrodite en 2010 sans son manager Terry Blamey. Egalement le premier depuis le rachat de EMI et donc exploité par Warner, avec la société américaine de management Roc Nation de Jaÿ-Z. Et le moins qu'on puisse dire, c'est qu'ils n'ont pas fait mieux que les anciens pour faire monter la pop/dance sucrée de la star australienne dans le haut des charts internationaux ! En tant qu'album, Kiss me once est pourtant solide, avec de bons titres estampillables "pure Kylie" quand on pouvait craindre une influence de sons américains/R&B trop présents, mais une fois encore, ça a été catastrophique pour le lancer avec des singles conséquents. Il faut avouer que le premier, le pourtant excellent Into the blue, n'a pas été le smash attendu pour le retour de la diva (#12 UK). Le second extrait, fourni par Pharrell Williams aux mains d'or, n'a pas fait mieux et s'éloignait sans doute un peu trop du son habitué des fans. Quant au troisième, Crystallize, il n'est même pas sur l'album ! Comme si Parlophone avait déjà abandonné son exploitation et quand bien même la belle a démarré sa tournée en Septembre dernier... Suivant le pays, d'autres titres sont utilisés en promo radio mais sans remixes officiels et sorties singles comme d'habitude avec Kylie ; du grand n'importe quoi donc ! Mais ça n'enlève rien à cet album que j'ai écouté toute l'année et qui finit en top position des CD anglophones 2014 pour moi.
01 INTO THE BLUE 4:08 10/10
Ecrite et produite par les américains Kelly Sheehan et Mike Del Rio, Into the blue m'a toujours fait pensé à un nouveau All the lovers, planant et addictif quoique différent et moderne avec ses plages de synthés, ses choeurs un peu tribaux et sa rythmique disco.
02 MILLION MILES 3:29 10/10
Fourni par le vétéran de la pop suédoise Cutfather et ses acolytes du moments, Million miles est étonnamment plus disco/pop que je ne l'aurais pensé vu ses signatures habituelles, preuve qu'il l'a concocté pour Kylie et il a réussi son coup parce que c'ets vraiment mon titre préféré de l'album, indélogeable de la tête une fois que vous avez entendu une fois son refrain "I feel like I'm a milli-on, milli-on, feel like I'm a mili-on miles away". Egalement ses choeurs "I feel so invisible" et la manière dont le tempo se ralentit par moment et que les voix sont comme mises en écho, j'adore tout dans ce morceau depuis son intro guitare à sa fin acapella comme chantée à mon oreille rien que pour moi :) !
03 I WAS GONNA CANCEL 3:33 9/10
Deuxième single et seule compo de Pharrell finalement bien qu'ils en ai enregsitré deux apparemment, I was gonna cancel est bizarre et à la première écoute semble brouillonne. Ce n'est que pour mieux cacher son potentiel d'addiction. La chanson est en effet construite comme les tubes des anglais Xenomania, avec des couplets, des refrains, d'autres refrains à mélodies différentes y répondant ensuite, et tout cela avant l'effet hypnotique de la chanson qui voit Kylie répéter "Go" au moins un milliard de fois avec une voix de diva lyrique en arrière plan, avant que la rythmique funky électrique ne reprenne. A noter que le remix des Moto Blanco remet la belle dans son territoire pop/dance habituel et accélère légèrement le tempo pour un effet final très disco.
Nouveau pari gagné pour Cutfather avec l'aide des faiseurs de tubes Wayne Hector et Autumn Rowe cette fois pour Sexy love, qui commence avec une basse funky en diable et un couplet un peu mou du genou mais qui n'en met que mieux en valeur le pré-refrain et le refrain "You look so sexy, so sexy in my head / in my bed". Sans que ce soit le titre du siècle, c'est un bon Kylie, que j'imagine aisément chanté sur scène avec la belle courte vêtue entourée de danseurs torses nus !
05 SEXERCIZE 2:48 5/10
Premier faux pas de l'album, faire suivre d'un titre commençant aussi par le mot Sex la bombe précédente, d'autant que Sexercize sonne comme un Chocolate sous phéromones, moite, sensuel et chaud comme la braise, à l'image du clip promotionnel tourné pour faire monter la sauce des visionneurs pour ce titre qui n'est même pas un single officiel ! Co-écrit par Sia Furler, également à la supervision artistique de l'album, on dirait que Kylie est pour elle un mélange de vamp allumeuse et pin-up sulfureuse. C'est comme ça que le titre sonne en tout cas ;).
06 FEELS SO GOOD 3:38 9,5/10
Produit par Wayne Wilkins et l'artiste MNEK, Feels so good est en fait une reprise de la chanson Indiana de Tom Aspaul, passée totalement inaperçue et revivifiée tout en gardant l'esprit original laidback et délicat. Même s'il manquait je trouve de potentiel pour sortir en single, c'est une version très réussie et que j'adore...
07 IF ONLY 3:22 8,5/10
Co-écrite et produite par le producteur indie/pop américain Ariel Rechtshaid, If only a le malheur de voir les paroles de son refrain commencer comme un titre précédent de Kylie, Two hearts mais comme on retient surtout en phrase d'accroche la fin du refrain lui donnant son titre, If only, ce n'est pas si grave. On sent cependant que sur ce titre le fan de base bifurque sur une voix plus expérimentale, à l'image des sons un peu zarbis parfois et des effets de voix samplés. La performance vocale de Kylie sur ce titre est cependant à soutenir vu qu'elle y vocalise par moment et que la production joue de ses parties vocales et les entremèle.
08 LES SEX 3:48 6/10
Retour à un son pur pop pour le début du troisième titre du CD à comporter le terme Sex, sauf que l'intro sucrée cache un imbroglio de sons électros qui se clashent avec une mélodie pop et une interprétation presque enfantine par moment, comme pour mieux opposer la tonalité robotique d'une partie du refrain. Au final, je trouve que ce titre tourne en rond et se supporte plus qu'il ne s'écoute !
09 KISS ME ONCE 3:18 9/10
Autre chanson de Sia, Kiss me once donne son nom à l'album et est bien plus réussie que la précédente. Légère et au refrain tout en envolée, on entend presque le phrasé de son auteure sur les couplets, Kylie ayant dû restituer fidèlement l'intention de l'interprétation de la version démo.
10 BEAUTIFUL (with Enrique Iglesias) 3:24 3/10
Dès son intro à la voix robotisée à l'extrème par abus de vocoder, on sent que le duo "gagnant" Enrique/Kylie, enregistré avec les producteurs habituels du célèbre latino et anciens du collectif Metro qui avaient fourni On a night like this à Kylie aussi, ne va être le tube auquel on s'attendait. Déjà, c'est une ballade, on s'y ennuie un peu, et la fête est vraiment gâchée par ses effets synthétiques sur les voix des chanteurs. Peut-être qu'en acoustique, piano/guitare sèche et voix, ça aurait mieux rendu... Je ne comprends pas que ce duo ait été ajouté à l'album de Kylie vu qu'il était déjà sur celui d'Enrique et que franchement, on pouvait bien s'en passer !
11 FINE 3:36 8,5/10
Dernier titre pour la version standard de l'album et seul auquel a participé Kylie pour l'écriture avec Karen Poole et le producteur Chris Loco, Fine est un agréable moment langoureusement pop, mais qui peine à faire remonter le plaisir après l'affreux Beautiful qui porte si mal son nom. Au fur et à mesure que les couplets/refrains s'enchainent, la mélodie ensoleillée et la voix moelleuse nous ont cependant rmonter suffisamment le moral pour utiliser la touche Replay :) et repartir au début sans faute de l'album.
12 MR. PRESIDENT 4:11 6/10
Curieuse juxtaposition que ce Mr. President fourni par Kelly Sheehan et sur lequel Miss Minogue a posé plus que la voix puisqu'elle a ajouté sa plume sur ce nouveau titre et premier bonus de la version deluxe. D'abord parce qu'il réussit à allier un refrain pop/dance plutôt plaisant à des couplets sur musique électro minimaliste et au phrasé entre rap et dub hyper-énervant (pour moi en tout cas) avec ses fins de phrases qui remontent à l'extrème. Avec une structure de couplets différents, j'aurais bien aimé ce titre où Kylie veut se la jouer Marilyn, mais là, c'est difficile...
13 SLEEPING WITH THE ENEMY 3:55 9/10
Heureusement le second bonus écrit par les maestros Greg Kurstin et Claude Kelly, s'il calme le jeu, en vaut la chandelle, même s'il est downtempo, ambiance trip-hop moite et planante. Kylie s'y fait douce et enjoleuse, mais avec une mélodie de refrain bien relevée qui épice juste ce qu'il faut cette plage de douceur hypnotisante presque des mille et une nuits.
14 SPARKS 3:31 7/10
Bien que je n'ai pas la version deluxe japonaise, l'ultime bonus y figurant n'est que la face B de Into the blue et ce Sparks aux sonorités caribéennes est totalement rafraichissant et étonnant, d'autant qu'il est fourni par Matt Schwartz et Karen Poole, plus habitués à la pop/dance planante qu'à ces effets de style exotiques.
En sus de ma version CD, j'ai donc ajouté mes propres bonus à ma version mp3 pour iPod, et après Sparks, j'ai finalement évité Skirt, le titre promotionnel de The Dream apparu sur le net au printemps 2013 comme pour tester la direction musicale que les fans voulaient bien lui laisser prendre dans l'enregistrement de son album "made in America". Là encore, nous avions un superbe refrain mais des couplets syncopés, répétitifs, inécoutables.
J'ai aussi fait l'impasse sur Timebomb, le single de 2012 célébrant les 25 ans de carrière de Kylie et qui finalement n'aura appartenu à aucun album. Notez que ce sont bizarrement les mêmes auteurs qui ont écrit Sparks, comme quoi, on ne peut présager de rien.
GOLDEN BOY 3:34 8/10
Par contre,j'ai inclus Golden boy, titre enregistré pour Kiss me once mais utilisé uniquement sur un 45 tours collector édité pour la journée du vinyl... Si ce n'était pas le titre du siècle non plus, je l'aurais bien aimé sur ma version CD à la place de Beautiful ou Les sex, ou allez, Mr. President !
CRYSTALLIZE 3:11 10/10
Mais le titre qui manque surtout à l'appel, c'est ce sublimissime Crystallize écrit avec Dev Hynes et Scott Hoffman des Scissor Sisters et qui s'est fait recalée de l'album mais que Kylie a décidé de sortir quand même en téléchargement pour réunir des fonds contre le cancer. Après ou à la place de Into the blue, Crystallize aurait à coup sûr boosté les ventes de l'album et plu à la planète entière : c'est de l'ADN Kylie à 500% !
BETTE DAVIS EYES 4:23 9,5/10
Dernier ajout, la reprise de Kim Carnes enregistrée par Kylie pour l'album de la BBC Radio 2 Sounds of the 80s et qui, à côté de moultes versions acoustico dépouillées de tubes des années 80, relève le niveau tout en restant fidèle à l'esprit initial de la chanson. Kylie y est sensuelle, attachante et y lâche de magnifiques feulements propres à mettre tout auditeur sain de corps et de tympans dans un état de rut caractérisé si vous voulez mon avis :).
A l'heure où les quatre premiers albums de l'australienne enregistrés avec Stock Aitken & Waterman s'apprètent à ressortir en éditions Cherry Pop deluxe 2CD+DVD incluant remixes, versions rares et vidéos, il était plus que temps que je poste tout ce que j'avais à dire sur Kiss me once...
lundi 12 novembre 2012
les hits de Kylie Minogue en version orchestrale ou piano/voix...
Depuis que l'info avait filtré l'année dernière, la sortie sur CD des sessions d'enregistrements de Kylie Minogue aux mythiques studios londoniens d'Abbey Road, sous la houlette de son directeur musical de tournée et producteur Steve Anderson, et avec le Royal Philarmonic Orchestra, était attendue par les fans de la belle australienne avec anticipation, d'autant que la rumeur d'un album de reprises façon jazz/swing avait déjà couru il y a quelques années de cela, après que son pote Robbie Williams ait publié son Swing when you're winning. Kylie nous avait de plus depuis longtemps habitué sur ses tournées à reprendre en version acoustique ou swinguante certains de ses vieux tubes, et c'était toujours un exercice où je l'adorais. Quoi de mieux en effet pour ré-apprécier ses bons vieux tubes pop que de les redécouvrir en version dépouillée faisant la part belle à la voix de son interprète et à la mélodie originale ? Son album The Abbey Road Sessions clôture donc cette année 2012 célébrant ses 25 ans de carrière, et qui a vu une mini-tournée de chansons méconnues la produire en Australie, un nouveau best of sortir, un single Time bomb sortir presque confidentiellement, et une box regroupant 25 de ses plus grands tubes s'offrir en édition limitée à prix d'or pour les ultra-fans (dont je ne fais cependant pas partie...).
L'album démarre par All the lovers, l'un de ses derniers tubes, et une timide guitare qui gratouille doucement comme pour inviter Kylie à prendre le micro. Ce titre à l'origine electro/pop de son dernier album Aphrodite se pare ici de nouveaux atours, somptueux et élégants façonnés de main de maître par Steve Anderson et Colin Elliot à la production, et ici de Cliff Masterson à la direction de l'orchestre, sans oublier Terry Ronald pour diriger des choeurs suaves et chauds. On se laisse glisser avec plaisir dans la volupté sensorielle qui émane des enceintes et on frissonne lorsque les arrangements se réduisent pour ne laisser place qu'à la seule voix sensuelle, extra-sensorielle même, de la belle. Mais lorsque les cordes reprennent de l'ampleur, on se sent emporté très haut dans le plaisir et on sent déjà que l'écoute de cet album va être un met délicat à savourer comme un délicieux chocolat que l'on laisserait fondre sur sa langue pour en prolonger le plaisir.
On a night like this enchaîne avec la même équipe, et ce titre de l'année 2000, pourtant très enlevé dans sa version originale produite par l'équipe de production METRO dirigée par Brian Rawlings, prend comme un nouvel élan, symphonique cette fois, qui continue l'envol extatique de nos tympans.
Better the devil you know calme le jeu puisque cet incontournable méga-tube de 1990 écrit par le trio de producteurs de ses débuts Stock Aitken & Waterman s'expose mis à nu en version piano/voix, juste épaulé par de beaux choeurs soyeux et une légère guitare par moment. Dans sa version originale sautillante, c'est je crois bien mon titre préféré de Kylie, ou en tout cas celui que je choisirais s'il ne fallait en garder qu'un, et dans cette version acoustique, toute dans l'émotion feutrée et contenue, elle se magnifie encore peut-être. Les détracteurs de l'usine à tubes que le trio et ses studios PWL peuvent aller se rhabiller : cette nouvelle version prouve s'il en était besoin que Mike Stock et ses acolytes avaient un sens de la mélodie incroyable !
Même version dépouillée, mais plus axée sur la guitare, pour un autre tube de l'époque, de 1989 même, fourni par le trio, Hand on your heart. Et c'est comme si la voix de Kylie, précise, mélancolique, nous faisait partager sa nostalgie d'une lointaine époque maintenant, mais qui lui a ouvert la voie pour la carrière qui s'est ensuite offerte à la petite star de série télé australienne qu'elle était lorsqu'elle débarqua à Londres pour enregistrer en moins d'une heure le titre qui allait faire d'elle la nouvelle coqueluche de la pop anglaise mais aussi européenne voire mondiale pendant de longues années. Hand on your heart avait déjà été repris en version pop/rock acoustique en 2006 par l'artiste anglais underground José Gonzales mais cette version n'en est pas pour autant une copie, loin de là !
Retour aux années 2000 pour une version ballade pas si différente de celle déjà offerte en concert du I believe in you, single inédit co-écrit par le leader des Scissor Sisters pour sa compilation Ultimate de 2004. Sauf que cette version s'appuie essentiellement sur la guitare acoustique et les choristes. Le piano accompagne seulement dans un deuxième temps. Qu'importe, la magie est là ! Et la voix de Kylie est comme depuis le début très mise en avant.
Simple duo piano/voix pour le titre suivant, Come into my world, titre de Cathy Dennis et Rob Davis de l'album Fever de 2001, et c'est éblouissant de simplicité, et d'intensité ! Alors que l'original était très produit, en bon et efficace single pop/dance teinté d'électro, là, cette version tout en légèreté garde son effet hypnotique, rien qu'avec ses voix, lead et de choeurs, et le martèlement du piano derrière : magique !!
Retour des cordes pour Finer feelings, un des derniers tubes des années 90 écrits par Stock Aitken & Waterman, et qui était déjà un mid-tempo moins synthétique dans son son, et qui avait été remixé par Steve Anderson (alors au sein de son duo Brothers In Rhythm avec le DJ Dave Seaman) pour sa version single. Je retrouve ici l'esprit original, mais avec 100% de vrais instruments, pas de synthés, un vrai batteur, des percus, et ces cordes et choeurs très présents qui donnent profondeur et ampleur au morceau.
L'enchaînement est parfait puisque c'est le premier tube post PWL Confide in me qui suit, et ce single de 1994 était le premier composé et produit par Steve Anderson pour Kylie. Là, aussi, cette version ne s'éloigne pas tant de la version originale, remplaçant juste les synthés et programmations originelles par de vrais instruments pour lui donner un relief différent. C'était déjà cette ambiance quasi orientale qui me gênait à l'époque et là, les percussions accentuent encore cette inspiration indienne.
Avec Slow, Kylie réussit là encore à recréer la moiteur et la langueur du titre original, de 2003 et de l'album Body language, en version organique. Et là où l'original était déjà très sexy, avec la voix ultra sensuelle de son interprète, ce son live des instruments, de la basse, de la batterie lourde et pesante pour rythmer le tout, cette version Abbey Road fait encore monter la température et l'on se croirait en plein revival flower power, années érotiques ou baba cool.
Nouveau virage temporel, Swingin' london cette fois, pour un The locomotion retro sixties qui retrouve son esprit Motown et nous donne envie de nous déhancher en rythme. Heureusement, à 2'34, on n'a pas le temps de perdre son souffle...
Et c'est avec son plus grand tube que Kylie enchaîne, j'ai nommé Can't get you out of my head, qui n'a pas perdu de son rythme dans cette version symphonique où les choeurs comme les cordes hachurent le celèbre "la la la la la la la la la" sur la toile harmonique de cette autre chanson de Cathy Dennis et de son compère d'écriture. C'est apparemment l'extrait choisi pour représenter l'album en radio mais je ne suis pas convaincu de son efficacité : et d'un, on connaît tellement la chanson dans sa version originale qu'il est difficile d'en imposer une nouvelle, et de deux, d'autres avaient plus d'atouts pour se faire redécouvrir du grand public, Better the devil you know en tête.
Where the wild roses grow suit, à nouveau comme sa version originale de 1995 en duo avec Nick Cave, qui a ré-enregistré sa partie pour l'occasion, et j'avoue ne pas trop voir la valeur ajoutée de cette version. L'original était déjà assez organique à mon goût et cette ballade sinistre plombe surtout l'ambiance ici, je trouve. Mais bon, il semble que c'est un favori parmi les fans... J'aurais préféré moi voir ici ré-interprété son autre duo méconnu, Bury me deep in love... A noter que c'est Steve Anderson himself qui les accompagne au piano, quand c'est ailleurs David Tench qui s'y colle...
Il garde les rênes sur un second titre, l'inédit uniquement interprété en concert jusque là et co-écrit par lui, Flower. Caressant et voluptueux, ce premier extrait promotionnel a ravi les fans mais était moins attrayant pour le grand public et les radios, sans doute. Les arrangements et l'orchestre philharmonique de Londres parent cette chanson magnifiquement et la font chatoyer comme un pur joyau caché dans son écrin noir et blanc.
Uniquement supportée par de doux arrangements de cordes, Kylie reprend enfin son incontournable I should be so lucky, et lui confère une intensité dans le doute et l'hésitation qu'elle n'avait pas abordé dans la version live déjà offerte par le passé, plus dans le style West End / Broadway. Mais je verrais bien une comédie musicale composé du répertoire de la belle australienne s'installer à Londres, surtout si le livret est composé des premiers tubes made in PWL.
C'est ensuite au tour de Love at first sight de s'offrir un lifting orchestral, pas le titre de Stock Aitken & Waterman de 1988, mais celui de 2001 extrait de Fever. Et ça lui va plutôt bien, d'autant que la chanson ne perd ni en rythme ni en légèreté. La voix de Kylie s'y fait toujours aussi sexy et plus que l'extrait précédent du même album, j'aurais plus apprécié ce choix-ci pour séduire les playlistes radiophoniques...
Et il est déjà temps de refermer le livre (version Deluxe) de ce bel album, mais il n'est jamais trop tard (lol) pour bien faire et c'est avec un nouveau tube des années 80 que Kylie nous dit au-revoir, avec un Never too late en piano/voix sublimissime qui nous touche jusqu'au plus profond de l'âme. Là encore, je ne peux qu'applaudir le talent de ses auteurs et rêve même de redécouvrir tout le répertoire de Stock Aitken & Waterman en version acoustique ainsi !
Heureux fans japonais qui peuvent profiter d'un dix-septième titre bonus pour prolonger le plaisir, et c'est le single de 2008 écrit par Calvin Harris, In my arms, qui s'offre une nouvelle version symphonique pour finir en beauté ces sessions aux studios Abbey Road. Cordes sirupeuses à souhait et violons presque tziganes pour une version capable de charmer même les serpents à n'en pas douter... J'aurais aimé qu'elle charme le boss de EMI pour lui faire une place sur l'édition française aussi !
Mais plus heureux encore les fans australiens qui profitent, eux, d'un dix-septième et ultime titre différent, Wow, extrait lui aussi de l'album X. Cette version fait la part belle aux voix, lead et choeurs, épaulées d'une guitare et de percus quasi tribales, et cette fois, on sent vraiment que c'est un ultime rappel, comme interprété en boeuf joyeux avant de se dire au-revoir. On est bien loin de l'électro/pop efficace et pétillante de la version originale qui m'avait séduit, mais n'était-ce pas là justement le propos ? Redécouvrir autrement ? Se laisser surprendre, aussi...
Et si ces Abbey Road Sessions sont superbes à écouter, elles le sont également à feuilleter, dans l'édition livre cartonné Deluxe que j'ai choisi d'acheter (dommage pour l'absence de titre bonus, par contre...), qui est un objet classieux et raffiné, distillant de très beaux clichés de Kylie Minogue et de son micro rétro. Ce CD a toute sa place sous le sapin de cette fin d'année 2012, même si l'on est pas fan absolue de son interprète : il suffira à donner une élégance à toute soirée, repas entre amis, qui s'étonneront de croire reconnaître une chanson mais pas vraiment...
mardi 25 septembre 2012
Kylie's new video FLOWER
Here is the beautiful -but a little sad- video for Kylie Minogue's new single, Flower, from her soon to be released now compilation The Abbey Road sessions.
mercredi 5 septembre 2012
Le prochain album de Kylie pour le 29 Octobre ...Enfin !
Enfin... ! ça y est, les enregistrements que la belle australienne a faits en 2011 au mythique studio Abbey Road à Londres se concrétisent sur un album, The Abbey Road Sessions, à paraître juste à temps pour le rush de Noël, le 29 Octobre prochain.
Cet album est en fait un nouveau Best of des meilleurs hits de Kylie Minogue, ré-enregistrés avec un orchestre philarmonique et donc en versions accoustiques ou symphoniques. A noter un inédit et futur single, Flower. Voici les titres retenus :
Cet album est en fait un nouveau Best of des meilleurs hits de Kylie Minogue, ré-enregistrés avec un orchestre philarmonique et donc en versions accoustiques ou symphoniques. A noter un inédit et futur single, Flower. Voici les titres retenus :
| 01 | All The Lovers | |
| 02 | On A Night Like This | |
| 03 | Better The Devil You Know | |
| 04 | Hand On Your Heart | |
| 05 | I Believe In You | |
| 06 | Come Into My World | |
| 07 | Finer Feelings | |
| 08 | Confide In Me | |
| 09 | Slow | |
| 10 | The Locomotion | |
| 11 | Can't Get You Out Of My Head | |
| 12 | Where The Wild Roses Grow | |
| 13 | Flower | |
| 14 | I Should Be So Lucky | |
| 15 | Love At First Sight | |
| 16 |
Never Too Late
|
Si Kylie avait déjà pris l'habitude de ré-interpréter downtompo ses anciens hits en concert, façon piano-bar jazzy, il ne manque finalement à mon bonheur que Wouldn't change a thing ou encore Bury me deep with love que j'aurais adorer entendre ré-enregistrés. I should be so lucky, I believe in you ou Better the devil you know existent déjà en version de ce style donc on sait à quoi s'attendre, et même si je n'aurais pas apprécié de la même manière un album de reprises jazzy s'il s'était s'agit de titres oldschool que je n'aime pas forcément, là, basé sur les titres les plus forts de son répertoire, je n'ai aucun doute et sais que je vais ADORER ce concept album sensé clôturer en apothéose cette année 2012 célébrant les 25 ans de carrière de Kylie, avant qu'un nouvel album studio "pop" suive en 2013.
vendredi 25 mai 2012
Kylie's back with brand new single TIMEBOMB !
The secret has been well kept. Rumours were going since Kylie was seen last month in Soho shooting a video but people didn't know if it could be for a music single or an advert. The answer was given today as a brand new single, Time bomb, has been released on iTunes at the same time as its video. She appears very sexy in it, first in short jeans cut pants, then in a dress that shows more flesh than it covers...
Written by Karen Poole (Alisha's Attic) with producers Matt Schwartz (Deepest Blue) and Paul Harris (Dirty Vegas), Timebomb is an electro pop song that is as sexy as catchy but still sounds a little indie to me, I mean, it is not the standard instant dance/pop song you hear and you only get the chorus twice. In fact, it seems to me it is the pre-chorus you get one time more, with its "Whoop" little shouts that is intended to get us addicted to the song, and in fact, after hearing a couple of times now, I am !
Released three days ahead Kylie's birthday and her latest compilation (The Best Of Kylie Minogue) that's released next monday, Timebomb is hopefully the next step in her K25 year celebrating 25 years of career before the release of her new recordings (at Abbey Road studios) of old hits in acoustic / symphonic versions.
Until that, we've still got her latest Best Of to buy, although the tracklisting listed below doesn't included Timebomb nor any other unreleased bonus material, and mixes all her eras including some odd choices (#9, #18, #21) and forgetting favourites (2 Hearts, What Do I Have To Do, The One, Put Your Hands Up) as well as this brand new single to sing along (and I add the lyrics right here too).
1/ Can't Get You Out of My Head
2/ Spinning Around
3/ I Should Be So Lucky
4/ Love at First Sight
5/ In Your Eyes
6/ Kids
7/ Better the Devil You Know
8/ All the Lovers
9/ Give Me Just a Little More Time
10/ Celebration
11/ Slow
12/ Red Blooded Woman
13/ I Believe in You
14/ On a Night Like This
15/ Confide in Me
16/ Get Outta My Way
17/ The Loco-Motion
18/ Tears on My Pillow
19/ Wow
20/ In My Arms
21/ Never Too Late
TIMEBOMB
Fast, time is ticking now so fast
The sand is running quick right, through our hands
Beat, feel the rhythm in my heart beat
Why don’t you move your body, to my body
Before we disappear
Tell me now (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna (Whooop)
I wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance of my life
I wanna (Whooop) Wanna, wanna, wanna (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance
Wait, no please don’t make me wait
When walls are shaking ground feels, like it might break
It’s not the end of the world
It’s just the start of me and you, yeah
So let’s just take the moment, boy let’s move
Tell me now (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna (Whooop)
I wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance of my life
I wanna (Whooop) Wanna, wanna, wanna (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance
We’re on a time bomb
It might not last long
So let’s just do it right now, do it come on
We’re on a time bomb
Before the night’s gone
Let’s just do it right now, do it come on, come on
Instrumental
Wait, please don’t make me wait
Wait, please don’t make me wait
Tell me now (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna (Whooop)
I wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance of my life
I wanna (Whooop) Wanna, wanna, wanna (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance
We’re on a time bomb
It might not last long
So let’s just do it right now, do it come on
We’re on a time bomb
Before the night’s gone
Let’s just do it right now, do it come on, come on
Released three days ahead Kylie's birthday and her latest compilation (The Best Of Kylie Minogue) that's released next monday, Timebomb is hopefully the next step in her K25 year celebrating 25 years of career before the release of her new recordings (at Abbey Road studios) of old hits in acoustic / symphonic versions.
Until that, we've still got her latest Best Of to buy, although the tracklisting listed below doesn't included Timebomb nor any other unreleased bonus material, and mixes all her eras including some odd choices (#9, #18, #21) and forgetting favourites (2 Hearts, What Do I Have To Do, The One, Put Your Hands Up) as well as this brand new single to sing along (and I add the lyrics right here too).
2/ Spinning Around
3/ I Should Be So Lucky
4/ Love at First Sight
5/ In Your Eyes
6/ Kids
7/ Better the Devil You Know
8/ All the Lovers
9/ Give Me Just a Little More Time
10/ Celebration
11/ Slow
12/ Red Blooded Woman
13/ I Believe in You
14/ On a Night Like This
15/ Confide in Me
16/ Get Outta My Way
17/ The Loco-Motion
18/ Tears on My Pillow
19/ Wow
20/ In My Arms
21/ Never Too Late
TIMEBOMB
Fast, time is ticking now so fast
The sand is running quick right, through our hands
Beat, feel the rhythm in my heart beat
Why don’t you move your body, to my body
Before we disappear
Tell me now (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna (Whooop)
I wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance of my life
I wanna (Whooop) Wanna, wanna, wanna (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance
Wait, no please don’t make me wait
When walls are shaking ground feels, like it might break
It’s not the end of the world
It’s just the start of me and you, yeah
So let’s just take the moment, boy let’s move
Tell me now (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna (Whooop)
I wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance of my life
I wanna (Whooop) Wanna, wanna, wanna (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance
We’re on a time bomb
It might not last long
So let’s just do it right now, do it come on
We’re on a time bomb
Before the night’s gone
Let’s just do it right now, do it come on, come on
Instrumental
Wait, please don’t make me wait
Wait, please don’t make me wait
Tell me now (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna (Whooop)
I wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance of my life
I wanna (Whooop) Wanna, wanna, wanna (Whooop)
Do you wanna, wanna dance like it was the last dance
We’re on a time bomb
It might not last long
So let’s just do it right now, do it come on
We’re on a time bomb
Before the night’s gone
Let’s just do it right now, do it come on, come on
jeudi 26 janvier 2012
les Finer feelings de Kylie version 2012
Une video teaser de ce que l'on doit attendre du nouvel album de Kylie célébrant ses 25 ans de carrière et reprenant ses meilleurs titres en version symphonique enregistrés aux mythiques studio d'Abbey Road...
mardi 22 novembre 2011
25 ans de carrière pour Kylie Minogue...
Pour fêter ses 25 ans de carrière, Kylie Minogue va enfin contenter ses fans, qui en rêvaient depuis qu'il y a quelques années de cela on avait cru qu'elle allait enregistrer un album swing/jazz comme son camarade Robbie Williams avec Swing when you're winning, et elle a enregistré aux mythiques studios d'Abbey Road apparemment pour un album symphonique à paraître au printemps prochain.
Au menu de ce nouveau CD, des versions revisitées de ces anciens tubes et il me tarde ! En effet, j'ai toujours autant aimé ses versions dépouillées que la dance/pop originale, à l'image des versions acoustiques déjà interprétés en concert depuis quelques années (Better the devil you know ou I should be so lucky, qu'elle vient d'ailleurs d'interpréter dans le programme X Factor australien -cf video ci-dessous-). Et je rêve que son nouveau single soit justement ce premier tube de 1987 de Stock Aitken & Waterman, version orchestre. Quoi de mieux pour consacrer sa carrière couvrant 3 décennies ?
Sinon, j'espère qu'au tracklisting figureront Wouldn't change a thing avec les obligatoires I should be so lucky et Better the devil you know pour la période Hit Factory, et I believe in you, On a night like this, In your eyes, The one, In my arms, All the lovers et Get outta my way que j'entendrai assez bien orchestrés ainsi, avec les obligés Confide in me et Can't get you out of my head. Helena Noguerra avait repris ce dernier à sa manière et Kylie pourrait aisément se le ré-approprier avec les mêmes arrangements buccoliques...
Je suppose qu'il va nous falloir attendre jusqu'à Avril / Mai 2012 mais on en saura plus avant j'espère !
Au menu de ce nouveau CD, des versions revisitées de ces anciens tubes et il me tarde ! En effet, j'ai toujours autant aimé ses versions dépouillées que la dance/pop originale, à l'image des versions acoustiques déjà interprétés en concert depuis quelques années (Better the devil you know ou I should be so lucky, qu'elle vient d'ailleurs d'interpréter dans le programme X Factor australien -cf video ci-dessous-). Et je rêve que son nouveau single soit justement ce premier tube de 1987 de Stock Aitken & Waterman, version orchestre. Quoi de mieux pour consacrer sa carrière couvrant 3 décennies ?
Sinon, j'espère qu'au tracklisting figureront Wouldn't change a thing avec les obligatoires I should be so lucky et Better the devil you know pour la période Hit Factory, et I believe in you, On a night like this, In your eyes, The one, In my arms, All the lovers et Get outta my way que j'entendrai assez bien orchestrés ainsi, avec les obligés Confide in me et Can't get you out of my head. Helena Noguerra avait repris ce dernier à sa manière et Kylie pourrait aisément se le ré-approprier avec les mêmes arrangements buccoliques...
Je suppose qu'il va nous falloir attendre jusqu'à Avril / Mai 2012 mais on en saura plus avant j'espère !
samedi 10 juillet 2010
Kylie Minogue's 11th album "Aphrodite"
Last monday was released the much anticipated 11th studio album by australian born and european becomed princess of pop Kylie Minogue, named Aphrodite. After her tenth X (rated) CD, it seemed our Kylie was going all warm and sensually sexy for a back-to-her-roots comeback album. It's been a couple of times now that I've started listening to it but I wanted to wait until I had the proper CD in the palm of my hands, touch it, feel it in its deluxe edition glossy booklet, to finally release my full review of what sounds like one of the highlights of 2010.
When you look for reviews for Aphrodite around the net, it seems nearly everybody, amongst her fans or in the music sites, loves it and call it her best album since Fever (in 2001...) or even Light Years (in 2000). Supervised by Stuart Price, the man who famously produced Madonna's Confessions on the dance floor or the Scissor Sisters' latest Night Work, Seal's System but is also the man behind the Zoot Woman project. All his productions or remixes mix an atmospheric and elegant atmosphere with electronical synthé sounds and dance beats. That sums up perfectly what Aphrodite is : a classy dance/pop masterpiece.
01 ALL THE LOVERS 3:20 10/10
(Jim Eliot / Mima Stilwell) Produced by Jim Eliot. Additional Production & Mix by Stuart Price.
The CD starts with the first single that was chosen to launch the album worldwide and All the lovers, from the first time I heard it, was a pure joyful and sexy anthem in Kylie's book. It starts all minimalistic with instrumental intro behind Kylie's whispering sexy voice all along the two first verses then it all begins with the first chorus, anthemic and etheral but powerful with a nice ascending musical structure. Next verses go back with the same hypnotical loops and then back with a chorus that adds some more joyful backing vocals. Then the song falls down into a moment of sonic intimacy with Kylie's voice, warm and haunting until the orgasmic musical bridge explodes before final chorus comes back and the song is already ending and it needs a replay, again, then again once more, and again again... All the lovers may not be the instant pop song some wanted for her comeback (and I can't believe it hasn't been number 1 in the UK charts!) but it's an addictive haunting one that, just like with Can't get you out of my head, you cannot escape.
I needed an extended version of this dreamy pop perfection but the single suffers from a very disappointing remix package, except for the Wawa full anthem. A spanish version, Los Amores, is noticeable though, for once Kylie treats her with another language on singing duties.
A last final word about the people behind it : It is the kish Mauve duo (Jim Eliot & Mima Stilwell), already responsible for Kylie's 2007 comeback single 2 Hearts, that wrote and produced All the lovers while Stuart Price added his final Aphrodite touch, like on most of the tracks here.
02 GET OUTTA MY WAY 3:38 9,75/10
(Lucas Secon / Damon Sharpe / Peter Wallevik / Daniel Davidsen / Mich Hansen)
Produced by Cutfather, Peter Wallevik & Daniel Davidsen. Co-Produced by Damon Sharpe, Lucas Secon & Stuart Price. Mixed by Mads Nilsson & Stuart Price.
Track 2's intro is all piano and disco Ooh ooh ooh before the real song starts and Get outta my way builds up into Love at first sight part 2, a full-on disco/house dance/pop number that has already been confirmed as second single. Very energetic and perfect to shake your ass on the dance floor, it is a favourite on every forum in Aphrodite's tracklisting. I really like it and am happy to see it being the next single (EMI is so used to wrongly choose Kylie's singles...) but I can't help but think there's a litlle something missing to challenge All the lovers' perfection. Maybe it is just that Get outta my way wasn't written for Kylie but was picked for her ; like most tracks on this album, Kylie's co-writing credits are nowhere here and I've always liked her recent songs when they were really hers. On the remix team, there seem to be 7th Heaven and Bimbo Jones listed so I shall melt in club heaven as soon as I hear these ...except they could not be chosen by EMI !? What the fuck !? That is all her fans need : pure cheesy disco/house remixes. Please, don't call hyped electro remixers again... mix destruction has never been my cup fo tea.
03 PUT YOUR HANDS UP (IF YOU FEEL LOVE) 3:37 10/10
(Fin Dow-Smith / Miriam Nervo / Olivia Nervo) Produced by Starsmith. Co-Produced by Stuart Price. Mixed by Starsmith & Stuart Price.
Next in line is another sure-to-be single that shall appeal to both her european and american markets. Put your hands up (if you feel love) don't waste any time with Kylie's laid-back but pulsating intro that explodes into an addictive chorus with the title line that stick to your brain and never leaves. While All the lovers was the soft IN side of Aphrodite's perfection, this one expresses the glamorous and show-OUT side of it. Here again, I hope a load of remixers will add their touch to it : I would love to hear a Moto Blanco and a Cahill remix of it, and a Dave Audé and Peter Rauhofer for the US too.
04 CLOSER 3:09 8/10
(Stuart Price / Beatrice Hatherley) Produced & Mixed by Stuart Price.
Closer is the first song by Stuart Price and it sounds odd but nice, between baroque and disco, with what sounds like an hysterical harpsichord rhythm all through the song and an hypnotical chorus. I have a vision of a Kylie dressed in a divalicious extravaganza singing behind an Amadeus-like mad pianist destroying his piano with his furious fingers while the world crashes all around them. The song ends as if it never has been anything but a short interlude to entertain us and make us wait for what's more to come ; album filler for sure, but with experimentation. Maybe I would have loved to see it as a Bside only to let other proper songs have a place in Aphrodite's short tracklisting. [You can note that, after Love at first sight, this is the second time Kylie has a song that shares its title with one of her previous songs, Closer being a 1992 Bside for Finer feelings, back in her Stock/Waterman days].
05 EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 3:25 8/10
(Tim Rice-Osley / Fraser T.Smith) Produced & Mixed by Fraser T.Smith.
"Beautiful... beautiful..." sings our Kylie to get this Keane leader's co-written anthemic up-tempo ballad started and it sounds rather beautiful indeed. While the chorus is all strong but breezy, the verses are dreamy and mellow and Everything is beautiful is what sounds the most like a ballad on Aphrodite, with its haunting backing vocals and tempo-down bridge and outro with piano. This is one of the few tracks that have no involvment from Stuart Price too.
06 APHRODITE 3:45 8,5/10
(Nerina Pallot / Andy Chatterley) Produced by Nerina Pallot & Andy Chatterley. Additional Production & Mix by Stuart Price.
Next is the title track and an intro with raw percussions and a march rhythm. Aphrodite is maybe the song that sounds the more like a transition with Kylie's previous electro/R&B work, with its chaotic rhythm and party vibe. The "Can you feel me in stereo" gimmick line is the real memorable moment of the song, although the verses are good and the chorus powerful. I feel this song is more of a live favourite than a future single. We already hear and see what Steve Anderson and William Baker will do with this new Nerina Pallot song, and Kylie will be an absolute diva singing this on stage with dancers all aroudn her, for sure.
07 ILLUSION 3:21 7/10
(Stuart Price / Kylie Minogue) Produced & Mixed by Stuart Price.
Illusion is another Stuart Price song, co-written with Kylie this time and it is her first co-written credit on Aphrodite. Illusion starts all dreamy with haunting vocals before a beep-ing loop get the rhythm started and it is an electronical mid-tempo to fill the gap between first half of the album and the final part. I admit this is the song I like the less, but with a 7/10 note, Aphrodite's down-track scores better than X...
08 BETTER THAN TODAY 3:25 8,5/10
(Nerina Pallot / Andy Chatterley) Produced by Nerina Pallot & Andy Chatterley. Additional Production & Mix by Stuart Price.
I'm glad Better than today hasn't finished like the White diamond fiasco ...I mean first be revealed on tour as a new track, then to be included as a highlight on Kylie's next studio album, then not make it and never get a proper release in a studio version that sounds like the one everybody who liked in live wanted to hear it. White diamond has just appeared as a ballad bonus on her tour's DVD and we still have to hear the disco/pop original studio version -yet- but Better than today, the first Nerina Pallot song Kylie included on her American show last year, IS indeed included on Aphrodite and it fits well. I swear while listening to it again now that I still believe it is a Jake Shears penned disco track ! It is a cheerful disco inspired upbeat sing-a-long song that will instantly make you feel good -or better- and you will find your feet tapping in rhythm with a huge need to get up, clap and hands and dance in retro cowboy style maybe. One complain though : the track's end ! it sounds roughly cut !!
09 TOO MUCH 3:16 9,5/10
(Calvin Harris / Jake Shears / Kylie Minogue) Produced & Mixed by Calvin Harris.
The club sounds of today are back on Too much's intro and there's even a powerful grandpiano moment just before the chorus, which is very strong and catchy, for a whole uptempo song that may be a contender for a single release. Produced & mixed by Calvin Harris (without Stuart Price involved), this disco inspired song (that he co-wrote with Kylie and the Scissor Sisters' leader that I was just talking about previously) sounds like a hit, with bits of nowadays electro sounds on top of cheesy eurodance synthés, but it sounds perfect ! Trendy remixes could apply on this one, even though the original version just needs none.
10 CUPID BOY 4:26 9/10
(Sebastien Ingross / Magnus Lideball / Nick Clow / Luciana Caporaso) Produced & Mixed by Stuart Price, Sebastien Ingrosso & Magnus.
Wasn't I talking about trendy club sounds ? Cupid boy, here it comes !!! Luciana and her man on the writing team with swedish house maestro Sebastien Ingrosso & friend on board with Stuart Price to make it a club anthem that must have been hard editing as it ends up in a 4'26 form that shall be shortened more if becomes a single one day. This track is a strong mixture of haunting vocals with childish accents sometimes, a wall-of-sound pre-chorus of pure house and an anthemic chorus that punches you straight in your face and shall leave you knocked-out on the dancefloor. I like it very much but I must admit this one is just too much dance over pop and my pure pop heart is suffering a little from this heavy club banger.
11 LOOKING FOR AN ANGEL 3:49 9,75/10
(Stuart Price / Kylie Minogue) Produced & Mixed by Stuart Price.
Take Illusion's credits and see how the same team can do better second time around. Minogue and Price wrote this wonderful and charming addictive feel-good pop song, all breezy and fun-pop, and I can't help falling in love with this maybe cheesy happy song but I would love to see it released and get a trance remix treament : even though Stuart made it sound dance/pop, Looking for an angel has all it takes to become a full trance highlight on continental radios ; maybe only promotional ?
12 CAN'T BEAT THE FEELING 4:10 10/10
(Hannah Robinson / Pascal Gabriel / Bjorg Fjordheim / Matt Prime / Richard X) Produced by Stuart Price, Pascal Gabriel & Bjorg Fjordheim. Mixed by Stuart Price.
I hate that but I can't put a name on the song that Can't beat the feeling's intro sounds like... ! Either retro and disco, but still dance/pop, like back in the Light years era, this Pascal Gabriel reminds me of why I so loved Kylie's comeback of 2000 : Mixing hi-nrg, disco, house to still make fun-pop and sound brilliant, camp and classic Kylie, Aphrodite ends (in its CD version) as a back-to-her roots tribute song ...AND I LIKE IT !!
So now my CD has ended, I have got to say I HATE the way EMI treats us : even in its deluxe edition, we get no additional track, just a classy glossy booklet with loads of beautiful photos of our new incarnation of the goddess of love, but even NO lyrics (!!!) and no bonus songs, even in digital... I still haven't taken the time to watch the bonus DVD that includes some live performances from her american tour, the making of All the lovers video (but NOT the video !!), a photo gallery and the behind-the-scene of this photo shoot... That is what I do NOT want as bonus... So why didn't I just buy the classic CD version ? Because the glossy booklike version would look better in my CD collection...
And what upsets me more is that there are some bonus songs elsewhere...
First from the usual iTunes digital world with an additional Xenomania song :
13 MIGHTY RIVERS 4:01 8,5/10
(Miranda Cooper / Brian Higgins / Carla Marie Williams / Jason Resch / Gerard O'Connell / Jaxon Bellina / Tim Deal) Produced by Xenomania.
The rhythm reminds me of Can't get you out of my head in the intro then the song evolves into a nice upbeat song but there's no real leading line to stick to your brain, just a moody dance/pop song that maybe didn't fit in the original Stuart Price tracklisting.
Another bonus comes like usual on the japanese CD...
14 HEARTSTRINGS 3:16 8,75/10
(Miranda Cooper / Brian Higgins / Matt Gray / Jason Resch / Kieran Jones / Gerard O'Connell / Jaxon Bellina) Produced by Xenomania.
...And it is another Kylie-inspired song written/produced by the Xenomania team, a little more laid-back than Mighty rivers, but still with a feel-good summery rhythm. Once again, the song lacks a strong chorus line that could have made it a place on the standard CD and hope for a single release, even though I find Heartstrings catchier than their other track.
Final bonus is All the lovers Bside that I have added in my Aphrodite playlist on PC and mp3-player :
15 GO HARD OR GO HOME 3:43 10/10
(Lucas Secon / Damon Sharpe / Thomas Sardof / Daniel Davidsen / Mich Hansen)
Produced by Cutfather, Thomas Sardof & Daniel Davidsen. Co-Produced by Damon Sharpe & Lucas Secon. Mixed by Mads Nilsson.
The song starts all accoustic with a guitar then Kylie's first verse but the pre-chorus uplifts the song into a super-catchy number that I CAN'T GET ENOUGH !!! Go hard or go home should have been on the CD for sure and if all Aphrodite's leftovers are of that level, I want to see them leak or appear on future Bsides/singles digital EP very soon !! Add to the upbeat rhythm the saucy chorus line and you'll know this one is gonna be a favourite for all the lovers...
When you look for reviews for Aphrodite around the net, it seems nearly everybody, amongst her fans or in the music sites, loves it and call it her best album since Fever (in 2001...) or even Light Years (in 2000). Supervised by Stuart Price, the man who famously produced Madonna's Confessions on the dance floor or the Scissor Sisters' latest Night Work, Seal's System but is also the man behind the Zoot Woman project. All his productions or remixes mix an atmospheric and elegant atmosphere with electronical synthé sounds and dance beats. That sums up perfectly what Aphrodite is : a classy dance/pop masterpiece.
01 ALL THE LOVERS 3:20 10/10
(Jim Eliot / Mima Stilwell) Produced by Jim Eliot. Additional Production & Mix by Stuart Price.
The CD starts with the first single that was chosen to launch the album worldwide and All the lovers, from the first time I heard it, was a pure joyful and sexy anthem in Kylie's book. It starts all minimalistic with instrumental intro behind Kylie's whispering sexy voice all along the two first verses then it all begins with the first chorus, anthemic and etheral but powerful with a nice ascending musical structure. Next verses go back with the same hypnotical loops and then back with a chorus that adds some more joyful backing vocals. Then the song falls down into a moment of sonic intimacy with Kylie's voice, warm and haunting until the orgasmic musical bridge explodes before final chorus comes back and the song is already ending and it needs a replay, again, then again once more, and again again... All the lovers may not be the instant pop song some wanted for her comeback (and I can't believe it hasn't been number 1 in the UK charts!) but it's an addictive haunting one that, just like with Can't get you out of my head, you cannot escape.
I needed an extended version of this dreamy pop perfection but the single suffers from a very disappointing remix package, except for the Wawa full anthem. A spanish version, Los Amores, is noticeable though, for once Kylie treats her with another language on singing duties.
A last final word about the people behind it : It is the kish Mauve duo (Jim Eliot & Mima Stilwell), already responsible for Kylie's 2007 comeback single 2 Hearts, that wrote and produced All the lovers while Stuart Price added his final Aphrodite touch, like on most of the tracks here.
02 GET OUTTA MY WAY 3:38 9,75/10
(Lucas Secon / Damon Sharpe / Peter Wallevik / Daniel Davidsen / Mich Hansen)
Produced by Cutfather, Peter Wallevik & Daniel Davidsen. Co-Produced by Damon Sharpe, Lucas Secon & Stuart Price. Mixed by Mads Nilsson & Stuart Price.
Track 2's intro is all piano and disco Ooh ooh ooh before the real song starts and Get outta my way builds up into Love at first sight part 2, a full-on disco/house dance/pop number that has already been confirmed as second single. Very energetic and perfect to shake your ass on the dance floor, it is a favourite on every forum in Aphrodite's tracklisting. I really like it and am happy to see it being the next single (EMI is so used to wrongly choose Kylie's singles...) but I can't help but think there's a litlle something missing to challenge All the lovers' perfection. Maybe it is just that Get outta my way wasn't written for Kylie but was picked for her ; like most tracks on this album, Kylie's co-writing credits are nowhere here and I've always liked her recent songs when they were really hers. On the remix team, there seem to be 7th Heaven and Bimbo Jones listed so I shall melt in club heaven as soon as I hear these ...except they could not be chosen by EMI !? What the fuck !? That is all her fans need : pure cheesy disco/house remixes. Please, don't call hyped electro remixers again... mix destruction has never been my cup fo tea.
03 PUT YOUR HANDS UP (IF YOU FEEL LOVE) 3:37 10/10
(Fin Dow-Smith / Miriam Nervo / Olivia Nervo) Produced by Starsmith. Co-Produced by Stuart Price. Mixed by Starsmith & Stuart Price.
Next in line is another sure-to-be single that shall appeal to both her european and american markets. Put your hands up (if you feel love) don't waste any time with Kylie's laid-back but pulsating intro that explodes into an addictive chorus with the title line that stick to your brain and never leaves. While All the lovers was the soft IN side of Aphrodite's perfection, this one expresses the glamorous and show-OUT side of it. Here again, I hope a load of remixers will add their touch to it : I would love to hear a Moto Blanco and a Cahill remix of it, and a Dave Audé and Peter Rauhofer for the US too.
04 CLOSER 3:09 8/10
(Stuart Price / Beatrice Hatherley) Produced & Mixed by Stuart Price.
Closer is the first song by Stuart Price and it sounds odd but nice, between baroque and disco, with what sounds like an hysterical harpsichord rhythm all through the song and an hypnotical chorus. I have a vision of a Kylie dressed in a divalicious extravaganza singing behind an Amadeus-like mad pianist destroying his piano with his furious fingers while the world crashes all around them. The song ends as if it never has been anything but a short interlude to entertain us and make us wait for what's more to come ; album filler for sure, but with experimentation. Maybe I would have loved to see it as a Bside only to let other proper songs have a place in Aphrodite's short tracklisting. [You can note that, after Love at first sight, this is the second time Kylie has a song that shares its title with one of her previous songs, Closer being a 1992 Bside for Finer feelings, back in her Stock/Waterman days].
05 EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL 3:25 8/10
(Tim Rice-Osley / Fraser T.Smith) Produced & Mixed by Fraser T.Smith.
"Beautiful... beautiful..." sings our Kylie to get this Keane leader's co-written anthemic up-tempo ballad started and it sounds rather beautiful indeed. While the chorus is all strong but breezy, the verses are dreamy and mellow and Everything is beautiful is what sounds the most like a ballad on Aphrodite, with its haunting backing vocals and tempo-down bridge and outro with piano. This is one of the few tracks that have no involvment from Stuart Price too.
06 APHRODITE 3:45 8,5/10
(Nerina Pallot / Andy Chatterley) Produced by Nerina Pallot & Andy Chatterley. Additional Production & Mix by Stuart Price.
Next is the title track and an intro with raw percussions and a march rhythm. Aphrodite is maybe the song that sounds the more like a transition with Kylie's previous electro/R&B work, with its chaotic rhythm and party vibe. The "Can you feel me in stereo" gimmick line is the real memorable moment of the song, although the verses are good and the chorus powerful. I feel this song is more of a live favourite than a future single. We already hear and see what Steve Anderson and William Baker will do with this new Nerina Pallot song, and Kylie will be an absolute diva singing this on stage with dancers all aroudn her, for sure.
07 ILLUSION 3:21 7/10
(Stuart Price / Kylie Minogue) Produced & Mixed by Stuart Price.
Illusion is another Stuart Price song, co-written with Kylie this time and it is her first co-written credit on Aphrodite. Illusion starts all dreamy with haunting vocals before a beep-ing loop get the rhythm started and it is an electronical mid-tempo to fill the gap between first half of the album and the final part. I admit this is the song I like the less, but with a 7/10 note, Aphrodite's down-track scores better than X...
08 BETTER THAN TODAY 3:25 8,5/10
(Nerina Pallot / Andy Chatterley) Produced by Nerina Pallot & Andy Chatterley. Additional Production & Mix by Stuart Price.
I'm glad Better than today hasn't finished like the White diamond fiasco ...I mean first be revealed on tour as a new track, then to be included as a highlight on Kylie's next studio album, then not make it and never get a proper release in a studio version that sounds like the one everybody who liked in live wanted to hear it. White diamond has just appeared as a ballad bonus on her tour's DVD and we still have to hear the disco/pop original studio version -yet- but Better than today, the first Nerina Pallot song Kylie included on her American show last year, IS indeed included on Aphrodite and it fits well. I swear while listening to it again now that I still believe it is a Jake Shears penned disco track ! It is a cheerful disco inspired upbeat sing-a-long song that will instantly make you feel good -or better- and you will find your feet tapping in rhythm with a huge need to get up, clap and hands and dance in retro cowboy style maybe. One complain though : the track's end ! it sounds roughly cut !!
09 TOO MUCH 3:16 9,5/10
(Calvin Harris / Jake Shears / Kylie Minogue) Produced & Mixed by Calvin Harris.
The club sounds of today are back on Too much's intro and there's even a powerful grandpiano moment just before the chorus, which is very strong and catchy, for a whole uptempo song that may be a contender for a single release. Produced & mixed by Calvin Harris (without Stuart Price involved), this disco inspired song (that he co-wrote with Kylie and the Scissor Sisters' leader that I was just talking about previously) sounds like a hit, with bits of nowadays electro sounds on top of cheesy eurodance synthés, but it sounds perfect ! Trendy remixes could apply on this one, even though the original version just needs none.
10 CUPID BOY 4:26 9/10
(Sebastien Ingross / Magnus Lideball / Nick Clow / Luciana Caporaso) Produced & Mixed by Stuart Price, Sebastien Ingrosso & Magnus.
Wasn't I talking about trendy club sounds ? Cupid boy, here it comes !!! Luciana and her man on the writing team with swedish house maestro Sebastien Ingrosso & friend on board with Stuart Price to make it a club anthem that must have been hard editing as it ends up in a 4'26 form that shall be shortened more if becomes a single one day. This track is a strong mixture of haunting vocals with childish accents sometimes, a wall-of-sound pre-chorus of pure house and an anthemic chorus that punches you straight in your face and shall leave you knocked-out on the dancefloor. I like it very much but I must admit this one is just too much dance over pop and my pure pop heart is suffering a little from this heavy club banger.
11 LOOKING FOR AN ANGEL 3:49 9,75/10
(Stuart Price / Kylie Minogue) Produced & Mixed by Stuart Price.
Take Illusion's credits and see how the same team can do better second time around. Minogue and Price wrote this wonderful and charming addictive feel-good pop song, all breezy and fun-pop, and I can't help falling in love with this maybe cheesy happy song but I would love to see it released and get a trance remix treament : even though Stuart made it sound dance/pop, Looking for an angel has all it takes to become a full trance highlight on continental radios ; maybe only promotional ?
12 CAN'T BEAT THE FEELING 4:10 10/10
(Hannah Robinson / Pascal Gabriel / Bjorg Fjordheim / Matt Prime / Richard X) Produced by Stuart Price, Pascal Gabriel & Bjorg Fjordheim. Mixed by Stuart Price.
I hate that but I can't put a name on the song that Can't beat the feeling's intro sounds like... ! Either retro and disco, but still dance/pop, like back in the Light years era, this Pascal Gabriel reminds me of why I so loved Kylie's comeback of 2000 : Mixing hi-nrg, disco, house to still make fun-pop and sound brilliant, camp and classic Kylie, Aphrodite ends (in its CD version) as a back-to-her roots tribute song ...AND I LIKE IT !!
So now my CD has ended, I have got to say I HATE the way EMI treats us : even in its deluxe edition, we get no additional track, just a classy glossy booklet with loads of beautiful photos of our new incarnation of the goddess of love, but even NO lyrics (!!!) and no bonus songs, even in digital... I still haven't taken the time to watch the bonus DVD that includes some live performances from her american tour, the making of All the lovers video (but NOT the video !!), a photo gallery and the behind-the-scene of this photo shoot... That is what I do NOT want as bonus... So why didn't I just buy the classic CD version ? Because the glossy booklike version would look better in my CD collection...
And what upsets me more is that there are some bonus songs elsewhere...
First from the usual iTunes digital world with an additional Xenomania song :
13 MIGHTY RIVERS 4:01 8,5/10
(Miranda Cooper / Brian Higgins / Carla Marie Williams / Jason Resch / Gerard O'Connell / Jaxon Bellina / Tim Deal) Produced by Xenomania.
The rhythm reminds me of Can't get you out of my head in the intro then the song evolves into a nice upbeat song but there's no real leading line to stick to your brain, just a moody dance/pop song that maybe didn't fit in the original Stuart Price tracklisting.
Another bonus comes like usual on the japanese CD...
14 HEARTSTRINGS 3:16 8,75/10
(Miranda Cooper / Brian Higgins / Matt Gray / Jason Resch / Kieran Jones / Gerard O'Connell / Jaxon Bellina) Produced by Xenomania.
...And it is another Kylie-inspired song written/produced by the Xenomania team, a little more laid-back than Mighty rivers, but still with a feel-good summery rhythm. Once again, the song lacks a strong chorus line that could have made it a place on the standard CD and hope for a single release, even though I find Heartstrings catchier than their other track.
Final bonus is All the lovers Bside that I have added in my Aphrodite playlist on PC and mp3-player :
15 GO HARD OR GO HOME 3:43 10/10
(Lucas Secon / Damon Sharpe / Thomas Sardof / Daniel Davidsen / Mich Hansen)
Produced by Cutfather, Thomas Sardof & Daniel Davidsen. Co-Produced by Damon Sharpe & Lucas Secon. Mixed by Mads Nilsson.
The song starts all accoustic with a guitar then Kylie's first verse but the pre-chorus uplifts the song into a super-catchy number that I CAN'T GET ENOUGH !!! Go hard or go home should have been on the CD for sure and if all Aphrodite's leftovers are of that level, I want to see them leak or appear on future Bsides/singles digital EP very soon !! Add to the upbeat rhythm the saucy chorus line and you'll know this one is gonna be a favourite for all the lovers...
mardi 20 avril 2010
new Kylie CD in store for 5th of July !
While a new unreleased jewel from previous studio sessions leaks,
Kylie's new single title has been announced (All the lovers)
as well as her 11th studio album, Aphrodite, coming in stores for 5/7/10...
I can't wait !
Tracklist:
01. All The Lovers
02. Put Your Hands Up
03. Better Than Today
04. Too Much
05. Robot Love
06. Get Out Of My Way
07. Is It Love?
08. Satellite
09. Holy
10. Beautiful
11. Aphrodite
12. Ruined
vendredi 30 novembre 2007
Kylie’s X is for Xtatic, seXy or eXcellent...you choose!
Now comes the time for me to post my review of Kylie's latest CD "X"
1/ 2 Hearts 8.5/10
Everyone knows now this one, first single, electro piece of glam rock she got from band Kish Mauve... not the way we wanted her to come back, but a grower and a killer chorus!
2/ Like a drug 8/10
Another grower, I'm afraid. When i bought my CD, there was a sticker saying "including the singles 2 Hearts, Like a drug, In my arms..." so when I first listened to it, I thought SH****T! this one can't be a single! It sounded too messy without a real key phrase in the chorus except for the repeated "like a drug, like a drug" in the end... After several listens, I admit I now like the song. I still hope though it ain't ever be a single 'cos there's more single potential packed in there to waste a place for this one!
3/ In my arms 9/10
Leaked a couple of months ago, this track looks like it is worth its place here and should become second single off X. It's a nice electro pop number with a good chorus. Still ar away from her pure pop roots but poppy enough to appeal to everyone.
4/ Speakerphone 4/10
Another piece of electro noizy track with annoying lyrics "singing" and a vocoder effect that captures Kylie's voice all over the chorus... There have been leaked tracks that should have took this place for sure. Both Mylo tracks were FAR FAR superior. This one ain't worth a B-Side!!!
5/ Sensitized 10/10
Using this over-used (for french ears only thanx to MC Solaar's previous hit Gangster moderne) sample from Gainsbourg's Melody Nelson was a good idea as this breathy & rythmic light pop song captures your brain and makes itself a place in there for the rest of the day. Another studio leak that stands its place here, close to "Tightrope" in Kylie's mid-tempo perfection department and single potential ! Thank you pop genius Cathy Dennis & pop guru Guy Chambers
.
6/ Heart beat rock 8/10
Back to rhythm, bleeps, noizes & extra phatt beat for an electro repetitive but extremely addictive track : the more you want to dislike it, the more you whistle it...
7/ The one 10/10
A disco synthetic rhythm displaid all over the song for a pure anthemic dance pop number I had high expectations for (due to favourite remixers Freemasons co-production credits) and ... it didn't deceive me ! When the chorus comes and Kylie sings "I'm the one, love me, love me, love me", I can't help but jumping on my too feet to sing along and even answer her that YES, she's the only one, queen of pop in our hearts and we LOVE HER, LOVE HER, LOVE HER !!! That should be a highlight in the Live X Tour next year with the crowd singing along her... I dream... I anticipate ! Another single potential too.
8/ No more rain 10/10
The intro puts the marks right there. We're back in the pop territories, electro clashy sounds are over and we can savor the melody, the voices & lyrics, all melting together like a torrent of white chocolate, warm and sweet, while the song is flowing into our ears. A moment of pure bliss, though I don't see it becoming a single.
9/ All I see 9.5/10
Another nice album track, more rhythmic than before, even quite funky with a good chorus where lead idea "All I see is you" stays in our minds long after it has ended.
10/ Stars 9.5/10
It could be "light years" part II. A disco beat, synthé effects behind, a killer chorus but with a rockier sound. Definitely another single potential !
11/ Wow 100/10 (YES! I meant this eXtra note...)
This is the stand-out track for me here ! A must-be second or third single if Parlophone or Kylie aren't dumb at all. A pure pop number like she needs it to ride high in the charts again with a deserved number one position worldwide... The intro is pure perfection, like only Stock Aitken & Waterman used to do, the sounds here get her back in the Fever era with filtered disco house and the chorus makes me go ..Wow wow wow woW !
I know it was easy but it's the truth. I think I will never get enough of this song EVER ! Put at this position on the CD, it is as if they have wanted to hide a secret jewel when everybody would have thought only fillers were still to come...
12/ Nu-di-ty 2.5/10
Did we talked about fillers ? Here comes one, back to electro sounds with a R&B rhythm that Beyoncé could have sung. That means for me that it's a piece of music non-sense that could only bettered by a Freemasons remix.
13/ Cosmic 7.5/10
Time to cool down now it's the last song from the CD. A nice ballad with nice vocals, like for some Disney soundtrack or from some Broadway musical. A timeless classic to end somehow a better album than Body Language was, although Light years and Fever perfections are still far away...
Open-disc bonus : Rippin' up the disco 8/10
It has been hard to manage to get my bonus track on my computer as I hadn't the right Java applet to get it but after numerous tries & updates, I got it. It is a good electro disco track that wouldn't sound out of place in Scissor Sisters' catalogue. As It's from the net, I don't know who wrote/produced this one but it's a nice try though I think Kylie's voice sounds too cold while singing "rippin' up the disco". Worth grabbin' anyway !
i-Tunes bonus : Magnetic electric 9.5/10
I think I'll never understand how the music industry tries to make us all still buy physical CDs when bonus tracks are only available from online stores... !? Anyway, at least, this one wasn't available in a bundle only cash-in offer and is pleasant enough it makes me regret it wasn't included on the CD in the 4 or 12 positions...
Bonus DVD Edition bonus : White diamond (ballad version) 8/10
Every Kylie fan knows this song for this Scissor Sisters exclusive appeared first on her Showgirl Homecoming Tour. The problem is that it's a nearly symphonic ballad version of the wonderful song we all wanted to hear in studio quality that has landed on the special edition along photos gallery & interview... A beautiful song that will be cherished by those (like me!) who liked her live cabaret versions of Better the devil you know or I should be so lucky but still not the real thing
.
2 Hearts' Bonus tracks Don't know what it is (6.5/10) and king and queen (8.5/10) are nice tracks too but when the first lets itself playing without further notice, the second, when it comes to end, makes me push the PLAY button : Syncopated & still electro, it is spicy like a ginger candy could be ...and only lasts 2:38.
Overall an album that will for sure stay a year or more in my mp3 player but that makes me wonder which further singles are gonna be released ! It has some variety enough in there to let EMI choose the best as well as the crapiest to try and hit the charts so I'm scared...
1/ 2 Hearts 8.5/10
Everyone knows now this one, first single, electro piece of glam rock she got from band Kish Mauve... not the way we wanted her to come back, but a grower and a killer chorus!
2/ Like a drug 8/10
Another grower, I'm afraid. When i bought my CD, there was a sticker saying "including the singles 2 Hearts, Like a drug, In my arms..." so when I first listened to it, I thought SH****T! this one can't be a single! It sounded too messy without a real key phrase in the chorus except for the repeated "like a drug, like a drug" in the end... After several listens, I admit I now like the song. I still hope though it ain't ever be a single 'cos there's more single potential packed in there to waste a place for this one!
3/ In my arms 9/10
Leaked a couple of months ago, this track looks like it is worth its place here and should become second single off X. It's a nice electro pop number with a good chorus. Still ar away from her pure pop roots but poppy enough to appeal to everyone.
4/ Speakerphone 4/10
Another piece of electro noizy track with annoying lyrics "singing" and a vocoder effect that captures Kylie's voice all over the chorus... There have been leaked tracks that should have took this place for sure. Both Mylo tracks were FAR FAR superior. This one ain't worth a B-Side!!!
5/ Sensitized 10/10
Using this over-used (for french ears only thanx to MC Solaar's previous hit Gangster moderne) sample from Gainsbourg's Melody Nelson was a good idea as this breathy & rythmic light pop song captures your brain and makes itself a place in there for the rest of the day. Another studio leak that stands its place here, close to "Tightrope" in Kylie's mid-tempo perfection department and single potential ! Thank you pop genius Cathy Dennis & pop guru Guy Chambers
.6/ Heart beat rock 8/10
Back to rhythm, bleeps, noizes & extra phatt beat for an electro repetitive but extremely addictive track : the more you want to dislike it, the more you whistle it...
7/ The one 10/10
A disco synthetic rhythm displaid all over the song for a pure anthemic dance pop number I had high expectations for (due to favourite remixers Freemasons co-production credits) and ... it didn't deceive me ! When the chorus comes and Kylie sings "I'm the one, love me, love me, love me", I can't help but jumping on my too feet to sing along and even answer her that YES, she's the only one, queen of pop in our hearts and we LOVE HER, LOVE HER, LOVE HER !!! That should be a highlight in the Live X Tour next year with the crowd singing along her... I dream... I anticipate ! Another single potential too.
8/ No more rain 10/10
The intro puts the marks right there. We're back in the pop territories, electro clashy sounds are over and we can savor the melody, the voices & lyrics, all melting together like a torrent of white chocolate, warm and sweet, while the song is flowing into our ears. A moment of pure bliss, though I don't see it becoming a single.
9/ All I see 9.5/10
Another nice album track, more rhythmic than before, even quite funky with a good chorus where lead idea "All I see is you" stays in our minds long after it has ended.
10/ Stars 9.5/10
It could be "light years" part II. A disco beat, synthé effects behind, a killer chorus but with a rockier sound. Definitely another single potential !
11/ Wow 100/10 (YES! I meant this eXtra note...)
This is the stand-out track for me here ! A must-be second or third single if Parlophone or Kylie aren't dumb at all. A pure pop number like she needs it to ride high in the charts again with a deserved number one position worldwide... The intro is pure perfection, like only Stock Aitken & Waterman used to do, the sounds here get her back in the Fever era with filtered disco house and the chorus makes me go ..Wow wow wow woW !
I know it was easy but it's the truth. I think I will never get enough of this song EVER ! Put at this position on the CD, it is as if they have wanted to hide a secret jewel when everybody would have thought only fillers were still to come...12/ Nu-di-ty 2.5/10
Did we talked about fillers ? Here comes one, back to electro sounds with a R&B rhythm that Beyoncé could have sung. That means for me that it's a piece of music non-sense that could only bettered by a Freemasons remix.
13/ Cosmic 7.5/10
Time to cool down now it's the last song from the CD. A nice ballad with nice vocals, like for some Disney soundtrack or from some Broadway musical. A timeless classic to end somehow a better album than Body Language was, although Light years and Fever perfections are still far away...
Open-disc bonus : Rippin' up the disco 8/10
It has been hard to manage to get my bonus track on my computer as I hadn't the right Java applet to get it but after numerous tries & updates, I got it. It is a good electro disco track that wouldn't sound out of place in Scissor Sisters' catalogue. As It's from the net, I don't know who wrote/produced this one but it's a nice try though I think Kylie's voice sounds too cold while singing "rippin' up the disco". Worth grabbin' anyway !
i-Tunes bonus : Magnetic electric 9.5/10
I think I'll never understand how the music industry tries to make us all still buy physical CDs when bonus tracks are only available from online stores... !? Anyway, at least, this one wasn't available in a bundle only cash-in offer and is pleasant enough it makes me regret it wasn't included on the CD in the 4 or 12 positions...
Bonus DVD Edition bonus : White diamond (ballad version) 8/10
Every Kylie fan knows this song for this Scissor Sisters exclusive appeared first on her Showgirl Homecoming Tour. The problem is that it's a nearly symphonic ballad version of the wonderful song we all wanted to hear in studio quality that has landed on the special edition along photos gallery & interview... A beautiful song that will be cherished by those (like me!) who liked her live cabaret versions of Better the devil you know or I should be so lucky but still not the real thing
.2 Hearts' Bonus tracks Don't know what it is (6.5/10) and king and queen (8.5/10) are nice tracks too but when the first lets itself playing without further notice, the second, when it comes to end, makes me push the PLAY button : Syncopated & still electro, it is spicy like a ginger candy could be ...and only lasts 2:38.
Overall an album that will for sure stay a year or more in my mp3 player but that makes me wonder which further singles are gonna be released ! It has some variety enough in there to let EMI choose the best as well as the crapiest to try and hit the charts so I'm scared...
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