Customer Reviews

Head Music

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

 

 

1. Surrender Yourself
2. Skin Deep
3. Sympathy Bouquet
4. Solitaire
5. Never Ending Winter
6. Figure In The Sand
7. Her Universe
8. What Are You Guilty Of?
9. The Way

The Daou is hubby & wifey Peter and Vanessa Daou. For those fans Club/Dance music, you know The Daou for their club hit "Give Myself To You" and also Vanessa's sexy remix of "Two To Tango". Here is more of a journey into down-tempo electronica but more along the lines of New Age.

Sophisticated, sexy and perfectly titled, this collection of music indeed gets into your head. The band is billed as "The Daou" which consists of Vanessa Daou and her husband's jazz band. Vanessa Daou is a breathy chanteuse who lights up the jazzy tracks with her ethereal vocals. The lyrics are serious, sexy, an intellectual trip. What's different about this music than her other work is the serious jazz riffs of her husband's band.

"Surrender yourself," the lead track, is also my favorite. Like most of her best, more erotic music, it has strong S&M undertones. This is a musical exploration of our deepest impulses. And, it's great dinner music at the same time. Maybe this is why Vanessa Daou never got the recognition that Sade did- her lyrics challenge us too much- she holds a mirror up to our dark side. It's that dark side, that realm of the senses, that brings this music alive.

Ultimately, The Daou asks you "What Are You Guilty Of?" and it's hard to avoid the question when absorbing this sonic experience.

Not sure if the release date is for mp3, because the album itself came in 1992. For anyone in Southern California back then, KTWV, the Wave, played fabulous world music (not the 'smooth jazz' they play now that is a slap in the face to their old format). Among their artists was The Daou and their single 'Never Ending Winter'. It's a rueful tune about destruction of the environment, which the singer speaks of as if she were singularly responsible for 'a vast terrain where nothing grows'. It's my favorite track, especially in light of present politics.

Another favorite is 'Skin Deep', about a man trying to outrun his despair. The driving electric guitar solo and pounding beat put you in the man's skin- you can almost see him helplessly thrashing but there's nothing to grab. All the songs are arranged nicely, the lyrics make you think - it's definitley not background music, despite Daou's whispery vocals. She's softly drilling her stories into your mind and you're not likely to forget them.

WOW, just WOW!! I just discovered Vanessa Daou today after seeing her name mentioned on the amazon.com music forum. I wasn't expecting much but thought I'd give her album "Zipless" a listen and after a couple of songs I knew I was addicted. She has dreamy sensual airy vocals that blend effortlessly with the trip-hop acid-jazz music. Her lyrics are as deep as the haunting melodies. However this album has more of an upbeat dark rock edge that is uniquely different from all of her previous work and yet still retains the trip-hop acid-jazz element.

My favorites so far are "Solitaire", "Surrender Yourself" and "What are You Guilty of?". There were only 2 songs I couldn't get into, the first was "Sympathy Bouquet". The drum intro was a bit on the cheesy side coupled along with the electric guitar that was jarring and overpowered Vanessa at certain parts of the song. "Her Universe" was a little too upbeat in comparison to the other songs and seemed out of place (but still a pretty song). Also "The Way" is purely instrumental, I wish it had Vanessa's vocals in it. So there you have it those are my picky opinions, someone else might totally disagree. But those are minor gripes so go ahead download the album, indulge yourself.

-I'd also recommend Vanessa Daou if you're a fan of Sade or enjoy something different with intelligent lyrics and amazing melodies.

"Head Music" by the Daou is richly woven tapestry of musical genius. Warmly sensitive while uniquely creative the compositon is balanced and tight. This selection is well worth the price of admission. Percussion keyboards, vocals, bass, all work together to create a window of perception to the deep recesses of inner space. I wonder would not the goals of higher education be more readily achieved if this music were a pat of the academic curriculum? It does not matter what anyone is accustomed to, this music works!