Imogen Heap - iMEGAPHONE
This is the Imogen Heap album no-one's heard about. It's not only before 2005's Goodnight And Go, but is actually the precursor to the critically acclaimed 2002 Frou Frou album Details. iMEGAPHONE isn't the same Imogen Heap we know now: it's still clearly her voice, albeit a less-refined younger version, but the music itself is far more exposed than her later albums, especially Ellipse. I don't mean this in a bad way, though! This openness gives the album a dark, moody, raw edge to her pop sound, as if Imogen wasn't sure wasn't sure which direction to take the record.
As a 20-year-old writer, a lack of definite direction is understandable, and although it leads to to some tracks perhaps not fitting in with their neighbours, it doesn't make any of the tracks less good, and leads to some pretty angsty lyrics. A prime example of this is in 'Oh Me, Oh My' when she screams "Oh God, are you out there?!" at the top of her lungs, before contrasting it (in true Imogen Heap fashion) with the lyrics ". . . if so, where are you hiding? I'm having trouble finding you." Nice. There's a cool gospelly track called 'Candlelight' later on as well, which is probably my favourite on the album.
There you are then. If you're wanting Immy c.2008, stick with Ellipse, but if you want to hear some new-old stuff, check iMEGAPHONE out.
j.r.
p.s. Also, hurrah! for anagrammatic album titles!
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