Kaleidoscope World [Import]

Swing Out Sister | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 7, 2003)
• Original Release Date: May 9, 1989
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal I.S.
• ASIN: B000001FQC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,213 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #71 in Music > Imports > Alternative Rock
  • #90 in Music > Imports > Dance & Electronic

Editorial Reviews

Japanese only SHM paper sleeve pressing. Includes bonus material. The SHM-CD [Super High Material CD] format features enhanced audio quality through the use of a special polycarbonate plastic. Using a process developed by JVC and Universal Music Japan discovered through the joint companies' research into LCD display manufacturing, SHM-CDs feature improved transparency on the data side of the disc, allowing for more accurate reading of CD data by the CD player laser head. SHM-CD format CDs are fully compatible with standard CD players. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Stir, Don't Shake: Music for Martini Lovers, July 4, 2000

By 

J. Collins "Paradise Bar & Grill" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kaleidoscope World (Audio CD)

The sassy, melodic blue-Pop of "It's Better To Travel" was a hard act to follow, particularly when S.O.S. went from a trio to duo. Given Corinne's affinity for torch and emotional drama, and Andy's flair for jazzy Pop music, maybe it's natural that they left the Rock influences out of "Kaleidoscope World." Where S.O.S. debut relied on rock-solid drums and slightly distorted guitar fills, "Kaleidoscope..." omits the former and relegates the guitars to atmosphere. There's at least one lovely acoustic guitar solo ("Masquerade"), but apparently that melody is derivative.

Some call this a Jimmy Webb album, though he is not credited as a producer. His orchestral arranging is pure "beautiful music," but the Sisters root these tunes in their unique lyrics and melodies. I agree with some of the allusions made to Bacharach's old catalog, but Corinne's lyrics tend to be more universal and less incisive than Burt's. In any case, this is highly crafted ear candy with substance, or "nutrition" if you prefer. It's also the stuff of foreign affairs, ill-fated romances and sunny days on the boardwalk.

My favorite tracks include "Where In The World" and "Heart For Hire"; both are funky "walking tempo" songs with a distinct South American flavor. "Between Strangers" is a jaunty take on infidelity and solitude. "Forever Blue" is the ultimate in S.O.S.' style of 60's-era Torch-Pop. It's the kind of song Julie London should have done in her heyday. There's also the break-neck speed "You On My Mind," which is vaguely reminiscent of "Bond girl" music. The straightforward Pop of "Waiting Game" provided this album with a very catchy single. (Look for the extended and "Ultimix" versions of this song, which add terrific dance club percussion and editing.)

There are two more (mostly instrumental) gems on "Kaleidoscope..." : "Coney Island Man" spins and dips like a carnival ride, with percussion that simulates a heartbeat. "The Kaleidoscope Affair" has a slightly overblown/pretentious title (not unlike the earlier "Theme from It's Better To Travel"), but the composition itself is quite impressive. Like a dizzying jig, the strings, keyboards, flute and guitar whirl about in a windstorm of rhythm and melody. To fully appreciate this song, you need to see it with the original music video, which shows scenes of dancers and bright colors/textures that add to the music's impact.

In fairness to younger fans who could care less about Cocktail Music, this album sounds wonderful in the park, at the beach, or during a stroll under rainy skies. Tuneful and resonant, "Kaleidoscope World" is one of S.O.S. classic albums.

-Mic

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More lush, dreamy jazz-pop from SOS, March 1, 2004

By 

Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Kaleidoscope World (Audio CD)

With British jazz-pop group Swing Out Sister's 1989 followup to It's Better To Travel, Kaleidoscope World might as well be titled It's Better Than It's Better To Travel, because it is. Orchestral and string arrangements abound in their glory, making more full the usual brass section, and the songs are just as dreamy and upbeat, and maintain a consistency in sound. And all that despite having the same producer save the group-produced "Coney Island Man."

The full-bodied brass ensemble in "You On My Mind" kind of makes it the opening theme song to so many movies in the 1960's, or something that Dusty Springfield would do. Backing vocalists are introduced here too. Whoever thought not getting over someone could be so cheerful?

"Where In The World" is more lush, but with the same pronounced brass sections, with some pop-like sections when the backing vocalists come in.

The slow-dancing and dreamy "Forever Blue" is one of two songs using a full orchestra. Despite its dreamy tone, the words tell a different nature, urging a girlfriend that hopeless wishing won't restore her guy. The other song is "Precious Words," something that could've doubled for a mid-paced 70's disco song. The title is all that's left in another song yielding an empty world: "Loneliness says so much more/than a thousand words ever said/conversations pass me by/I'm left with silence instead." Instrumental versions of both are included.

When Corrine sings in a slightly lower register in "Heart For Hire," similarities to Sade can be detected, although Corrine's voice is smoky but higher in pitch. Another mid-paced Dusty-like song. The title refers to what the protagonist will be when the lying louse leaves her.

"Waiting Game" has a tempered Stock-Aitken-Waterman sound, with string and brass arrangements flirting with 70's-style disco. Put it another way, Dusty and the Pet Shop Boys would want to do this and put it on Dusty's Reputation album.

"Masquerade" is a moody piece where similarities to Sade can be heard when Corrine's voice is long and drawn out. This song too has an instrumental version included.

"Between Strangers" could've belonged on their previous album, what with the bass keys that can be heard.

"The Kaleidoscope Affair" is not the theme to a 60's spy movie, but this instrumental, with Corrine merely vocalizing, might as well be for such a hypothetical movie. "Coney Island Man" is another instrumental, upbeat with more vocalizing by Corrine, and sounding a lot like Basia.

A mixture of songs buoyed by energetic strings and horns, with Corrine Drewery's voice used to better effect than it was in the previous album, and a sound that occasional veers into 70's disco territory and 60's Dusty Springfield regions, Swing Out Sister's Kaleidoscope World is a world for the dreamer, but at times, with advice that the dreamer should wake up.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A FLAWLESS PIECE OF POP MUSIC., October 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Kaleidoscope World (Audio CD)

MY INITIAL EXPOSURE TO THIS REMARKABLE ALBUM CAME BY WAY OF AN APPEARANCE OF THE GROUP ON NBC'S "LATE NIGHT WITH DAVID LETTERMAN" IN 1989. I WAS THRILLED TO SEE THE GORGEOUS CORINNE DREWERY SINGING HER HEART OUT ON THE FIRST SINGLE TAKEN FROM THE ALBUM "WAITNIG GAME". AFTER 1987'S STUNNING DEBUT "IT'S BETTER TO TRAVEL", THE BAND WISELY SWITCHED GEARS ON THIS FOLLOW-UP, OPTING FOR A NOTE PERFECT AMALGAM OF 60'S POP, CONTEMPORARY JAZZ, AND LATE 80'S DANCE RHYTHMS. BACKED BY AN AIRTIGHT RHYTHM SECTION, AND THE LUSH, "TOO PRETTY FOR THIS PLANET" ORCHESTRAL STYLINGS OF THE INCOMPARABLE JIMMY WEBB, SWING OUT SISTER GO ABOUT THE TASK OF RECORDING THE PERFECT POP ALBUM. MISSION ACCOMPLISHED. THE AFOREMNETIONED CORINNE DREWERY, KEYBOARDIST/MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST/VOCALIST ANDY CONNELL HAVE NEVER SOUNDED BETTER AND MORE FOCUSED THAN THEY DO HERE. WHILE THE PLEASURES OF THEIR FIRST RELEASE WERE SOMEWHAT LIMITED TO THE HIT SINGLES "BREAKOUT", AND THE FLAWLESS "TWIGHLIGHT WORLD", EVERY SONG ON "KALEIDOSCOPE WORLD" SPORTS A HOOK AND ARRANGEMENT THAT MAKES IT WORTHY OF RELEASE AS A SINGLE. PICKING PERSONAL FAVORITES FROM THIS COLLECTION WOULD MISS THE POINT, THERE IS SIMPLY NOT A WEAK CUT TO BE FOUND HERE, FROM THE KNOCKOUT OPENER,"YOU ON MY MIND" TO THE GOOSEBUMP INDUCING BEAUTY OF " FOREVER BLUE" AND "HEART FOR HIRE" SWING OUT SISTER NEVER MISS A BEAT. THIS IS ONE FOR THE AGES. A TIMELESS CLASSIC.