Customer Reviews

Dreams That Breathe Your Name

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Remember listening to Mazzy Star and imagining the person of your dreams slowly spinning in the an empty ballroom with only the shine of mirrorball outlining their movements? No. Huh, well then listen to Elysian Fields and you'll get an idea of what I mean.
"Dreams That Breathe Your Name" is an album that blends blurry eyed lyrics with plodding shoegazer-jazz. Think PJ Harvey at her most quiet and intense, the dreaminess of Portishead, and the elegance of Mazzy Star. So, enough with the allusions.
Jennifer Charles has a velvet tongue that doesn't mind licking every inch of you. 'Sultry' is inadequate descriptor. Oren Bloedow is able to orchestrate a sound that feels like a blue cloud of cigarette smoke that reeks of sex, achieved and denied.
The gems here are 'Timing is Everything,' 'Live for the Touch,' and 'Shrinking Heads in the Sunset.' But you really don't lose here.

some people are so sick. i can't believe people are weighing in on her looks. this is about music people! charles and bloedow are amazing composers. the music is divine and pure and it is moody and it even rocks at times. the lyrics are moving, and these people who are saying this is parody are parodies themselves. they are clueless, as they can only see jennifer as a sex object. it's a pity because they are missing the boat. can't women be powerful and sexy and smart without threatening the pathetic creepy boys of this world? beautiful vocals too, lest we forget she's an AMAZING singer! And frankly, I find that the poduction values have improved over the years, less gloss, and more real muscle.

I've waited close to four years (minus side projects) for a new album. Let me tell you, the wait was well worth it. I agree with most of what the other review said, except it sounds like track 3 "Timing is Everything" will be the single. Why is this band not recognized??? They need a US tour sometime in the future. Oh, and did I mention, go buy this CD!! You will not be disappointed!!

Elysian Fields just get better and better. The dreamy feel, the creamy pop textures, the subtle complexity, the sly humour, the relish of sound and delight in harmony. Ahhh! Baby Get Lost should be a radio hit--in fact this whole record is probably the band's most accessible. Only the repetitive and predictable Passing On The Stairs is less successful than it might have been. Someone willing to spend some money on promotion, please step up.

Elysian Fields is one of the most underrated bands in the world.
Consistently they make strong work, and "Dreams..." is a fine example.
So many beautiful songs. Passing on the Stairs is an amazing duet and should go down in history as a classic. Drunk on Dark Sublime has Indian/Eastern influence with sitars and tabla, and Jennifer's singing is gorgeous. Live for the Touch- ("is it true that you could bring me closer to the dieing sun? the next assault could be the lucky one". Hard to pick a favorite song,
Narcosmicoma is also incredibly moving and moody, with a slow hypnotic feel-
("Narcosmicoma let you in, in to the whirl wind of blue floss imaginings").

This is the band's most polished and professional work. A great starting place if you're just getting into this group, though I enjoy 'Queen Of The Meadow' a bit more.

I finally got this album after waiting for what seems like forever and I absolutely love it. "Passing on the Stairs" is probably my favorite track. The lyrics are so vivid and beautiful, and I can perfectly see a rainy, jazz-filled film based on the story in the song everytime I listen to it. The saxophone on "Shrinking Heads in the Sun" is divine, and dare I say "saucy". The whole album just drips sex and sensuality, like all EF works. This band has got to tour the US more. They are yummy.

I've been waiting for about 7 years since your first EP was released and as far as I can tell you haven't toured out west. Please stop by next time!

As an ardent fan of the first two albums, and I haven't bought this one yet, only listened to samples, but I laughed at some of these samples (I know I know, they're a smittence of the full track, but you get an idea, eh?).

Why? Because Jennifer Charles is starting to sound like a cartoon parody of herself. Or in other words, oh so predictable ....

But maybe I'm just jaded. For sure I am. Still, I think that the price is right here and I'm already behind the eight-ball on this one, so I'm buying it.

My friend below me is correct in his assessment that Jennifer Charles is slowly becoming a caricature, but that does not keep this album from being very enjoyable. With the loss of a major label, it does seem as if Ms. Charles' looks have began to suffer along with the decreased production values and increased hard-living...until you get a look at the picture in the sleeve of "Dreams that Breathe Your Name" of Ms. Charles in a bra, wearing a very seductive look on her face! That, my friends, is the point of an Elysian Fields Album. Close your eyes,let your imagination wander and embrace the ethereal, sublime sounds of experimental jazz, while imagining love making with the girl you wish you could have, but who is painfully out of your reach.