Album Review: Temperamental Angel by Gilli Moon

Album Name: Temperamental Angel
Artist: Gilli Moon
Year/Label: 2001 / Orchard

Buy the CD

Review by Anna Maria Stjärnell
Gilli Moon’s second album opens with a spoken word piece that’s reminiscent of Laurie Anderson. Then the rest of the record unfolds and reveals itself to be a unique mix of accessible hooks, passionate vocals and heartfelt lyrics.

Moon effectively captures a variety of moods with her music.

The title track has its fair share of Alanis Morrissette’s explosive nature.

By contrast the ballad “Why Do you Love Me Still?” is tender and sweet and should top the lists in a fair universe.

She’s an intriguing new voice to listen out for.

Posted on January 3, 2001

Track Listing
Listen to track samples
1. Communication
2. Temperamental
3. Plenty
4. Naked
5. Time
6. Swimming
7. Disgrace
8. Why Do You Love Me Still
9. Touch Me
10. Alive

[Gilli Moon Official Site]

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Spotlight on: Sarah Harmer

Sarah Harmer

Sarah Harmer is the youngest of six children born to farmer Clem Harmer and his school teacher wife, Isabelle. She grew up on a hundred-acre farm near Hamilton, Ontario.

Sarah’s first solo performance was at church at the age of four.

After a stint with country-rockers the Saddletramps, Sarah formed her own band, Weeping Tile, while at college in Kingston, Ontario. The group recorded three albums before Sarah recorded a collection of country and jazz favorites to give to her father for Christmas. The resulting “Songs for Clem” kick-started her solo career, and led to “You Were Here”

[Sarah Harmer Official Site]
[Interview with Sarah]

While she was with Weeping Tile.
[On The Ectophile’s Guide]
[Now Ontario] cover story

Read reviews of CDs:
[You Were Here]

Read reviews of Concerts:
[in Minneapolis (2001)]
[in Minneapolis (2000)]


Discography

Or get all on Amazon downloads (the best!)
[Buy MP3s at Amazon]

With Weeping Tile:
Valentino (1997)
Cold Snap (1995)
eepee (1994)

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Spotlight on: Emm Gryner

Emm Gryner

Emm Gryner was born in 1975 in Sarnia, Ontario.

She began writing songs at age 10. When she was 21 years old Emm started her own record label “Dead Daisy Records”. It only took a couple of years before the people at Lilith Fair got interested and invited her to perform. She played Lilith Fairs in both 1997 and 1998.

Her first EP, “Original Leap Year was releases in 1996. Then came the full length, “Public” in 1998. Her latest gig has been singing back up for non other than David Bowie!

She recently released, “Science Fair”

About “Science Fair” from official site:

“Emm Gryner’s productivity makes for a prolific song output. Her desire to reveal her private side results in the release of Science Fair a collection of 8-track recordings, free of studio embellishments, sustained by the passion and intensity of the writer.”

Update: Emm Gryner’s latest album, Dead Relatives, is a collection of unreleased material that she wanted to share with her fans. The tracks date back to 1992, and include b-sides, demos, and other stuff that didn’t make it onto her previous records. In her spare time, Emm has been touring with David Bowie as a backup singer.
From Umbrella Music

[Emm Gryner Official Site]

Read reviews of:
[Girl Versions]


Discography

Summer of High Hopes (2006)
Songs of Love and Death (2003)
Science Fair (2003)
Asian Blue (2002)
Girl Versions (2001)
Public Record (1998)
Original Leap Year (1997)
And Distrust It (1995)

EMM GRYNER: The Summer of High Hopes
Summer of High Hopes (2006)
EMM GRYNER: Songs of Love and Death
Songs of Love and Death (2003)
EMM GRYNER: Science Fair
Science Fair (2003)
EMM GRYNER: Asianblue
Asian Blue (2002)
EMM GRYNER: Girl Versions
Girl Versions (2001
EMM GRYNER: The Original Leap Year
Original Leap Year (1997
EMM GRYNER: And Distrust It
And Distrust It (1995)

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Spotlight on: Alice Marie

Alice Marie

Arts writer Gary Turner says of Alice Marie’s debut CD Equilibrium,

“Her piano melodies and haunting lyrics are captivating. This is an intriguing offering from what is sure to become a sought-after talent.”

Tina Shafer, coordinator of the Songwriters’ Circle at the Bitter End in New York City, was of the same mind when she invited Alice Marie to take the stage where Desmond Child, Vanessa Carlton, and Norah Jones once shared their compositions.

The New York-based singer-songwriter likes to balance the earthy with the spiritual and thinks of songwriting as “making love with your higher self.” The result is sensuous rock-driven ballads that sometimes erupt into volcanic exorcisms. Whether she’s floating in the ether or digging in the dirt, the poet in Alice Marie emerges in all her songs, particularly in “Seasoned,” an experimental ballad about enduring love.

The voice of this Celtic-hearted Brazilian with the French name is alternately bold and delicate, inspiring comparisons to Natalie Merchant, The Cranberries, and Sarah McLachlan, while some of her dramatic arrangements display the influence of Kate Bush and Tori Amos.

[Alice Marie Official Site]

Read reviews of:
[Angels Near]
[Equilbrium]


Discography

ALICE MARIE: Equilibrium ALICE MARIE: angels near VARIOUS ARTISTS: Undiscovered Gems

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Spotlight on: Aimee Mann

Aimee Mann

During the ’80s, Aimee Mann led the post-new wave pop group, Til Tuesday. After releasing three albums with the group, Mann broke up the band and embarked on a solo career.

Her first solo album, Whatever, was a more introspective, folk-tinged effort than Til Tuesday’s albums, and received uniformly positive reviews upon its release in the summer of 1993. However, the album was only a small hit, spending only seven weeks on the American charts, where it peaked at 127.

Nevertheless, Whatever rejuvenated her career – after its release, critics were praising her songwriting, as were peers like Elvis Costello, Difford and Tilbrook, and Andy Partridge.

Early in 1995, Mann had a modest hit with “That’s Just What You Are,” a song included on the soundtrack to the television series, Melrose Place.

Following the success of the single, Mann was set to release her second solo album in the spring of 1995, but her record label, Imago, filed for bankruptcy before its release. She signed a contract with Reprise Records after Imago went under, but Imago prevented her from releasing any records.

For most of 1995, Mann battled Imago in an attempt to free herself from the label, eventually winning her independence at the end of the year. After her dispute with Imago was settled, she signed with DGC Records.

Mann’s second album, I’m With Stupid, was released in England in the late fall of 1995 and in January of 1996 in America. Again, it was greeted with positive reviews, but weak sales.

Mann’s career got a kick-start in early 2000, however, when she released her soundtrack for the critically acclaimed film Magnolia; the song “Save Me” was later nominated for an Academy Award. Originally available only at live dates, the solo Bachelor No. 2 received national release in the spring. In the summer of 2002, Mann returned to the forefront with the self-released Lost In Space.
– Stephen Thomas Erlewine

[Aimee Mann Official Site]


Discography

@#%&*! Smilers (2008)
One More Drifter in the Snow (2006)
Lost In Space (2002)
I Am Sam Soundtrack (2002)
The Forgotten Arm (2005)
Bachelor #2 (2000)
Magnolia Soundtrack (1999)
I’m With Stupid (1996)
Whatever (1993)

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Spotlight on: Marie Frank


Marie Frank

Marie Frank was born on August 28, 1973 in rural Denmark. She began playing the guitar at age 10. She took guitar lessons from a local teacher then joined a girl band when she was in high school in Denmark.

She moved to the town of Randers and made some musician friends. When Randers wasn’t offering all she needed, she packed up her guitar and hitchhiked through Europe becoming a street musician. After playing many gigs and putting together a demo, BMG Records took notice and signed her.

Marie Frank has received four Danish Grammy awards and the title Best Female Vocalist of the year 1999.

Her inspirations are quite varied as she names, Janis Joplin and Joni Mitchell as well as Bob Dylan and Lou Reed.

She now lives in New York, but still tours Denmark occasionally

Her CD “Ancient Pleasures” was released on August 29, 1999 in Denmark.

She also has a fabulous web site where you can hear bits of the entire CD and watch a video.
(info taken from Marie’s Official Site)

[Marie Frank Official Site]

Read reviews of:
[Where The Wind Turns The Skin To Leather]
[Swimmingly]
[Vermilion]
[Ancient Pleasures]


Discography

Where The Wind Turns The Skin To Leather (2005)
Swimmingly (2003)
Vermilion (2002)
Ancient Pleasures (1999)

MARIE FRANK: Where The Wind Turns The Skin To Leather

Where The Wind Turns The Skin To Leather (2005)
MARIE FRANK: Swimmingly

Swimmingly (2003)

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