Customer Reviews

Kaleidoscope World

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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.

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.

This is by far my favorite album by Swing Out Sister!

The promised jazz revival of the mid-late 1980s was dotted with dissapointments...dark, moody, world weary muzak...then at the end of the decade... bright jewel tone melodies from Swing Out Sister! aahhhh...

The album sparkles! Hits include the joyful "You on my mind", the impossible-to-forget tune of "Where in the world" (BEWARE: you will be singing this song long after hearing it!), the sweetness of "Forever Blue", sentiment mixed with great sound finds itself in "The Waiting Game" and the guitar-thrumming-rock hitting-good-bad-and the ugly-gut-grunt beauty of "Masquerade"!

The instrumental tracks "Coney Island Man" and "Kaleidoscope Affair" are just gorgeous!

The large sound of jazz, the perfection of pop, the genius of Jimmy Webb, the musicianship of Andrew Connell and the beckoning swoon of Corrine Drewery all come together to make the
beautiful sound movie: Kaleidoscope World.

Buy this CD!

I have them all, this is the best: Never gets old, and very lush arrangements. Swing Out Sister has been compared to Basia and Everything But the Girl, but there is no comparison: Swing Out Sister is so much better. It would be better to compare this album to the Americanized Bossa Nova of Sergio Mendes. Do a search for "Classics Volume 18", by Sergio Mendes, and then listen to some of the samples. Comparison with Swing Out Sister is so great it is almost scary. Another cool-jazz bossa nova sound for Swing Out Sister fans is Astrud Gilberto. Some of her stuff from the 60's shows where Corrinne Dewey must've gotten her inspiration...

This being my first review on Amazon I don't really wish to start any bad habits. Meaning I suspect that I should try to maintain some sort of 'balance' in my crtitiques and be as sensible as I can about reviewing CD's, movies, books, etc., etc. Well, I may indulge myself ( and we'll just tack this up to to being a 'rookie' at this type of thing! ) when it comes to reviewing Swing Out Sister's " Kaleidoscope World. " A disc that with each each gives this listerner a little more insight into it's intricacies and sophisticated charms.

Having long been a huge fan of 'Brit Soul' ( I dislike that term but for the moment I'll pass on that subject ) I have a collection of 'blue-eyed soul' CD's by an ever growing field of UK singers such as George Michael, Simply Red, Lisa Stansfield and Jamiroquai ( although he's a bit more dance oriented but.... ). Fitting nicely into that genre as well is the amazing duo Swing Out Sister, a collaboration that, while here in the States they are simply not that popular ( and shame on us! ) are still immensely well thought of back home in England and the rest of Europe. And with the release of " Kaleidospoe World " I truly thought that would change. And at a time when artists of dubious talents ( no, I shall refrain from naming names but I do have a list! ) are able to push more CD's out of the store than expected it still boggles my mind why SOS aren't in everyone's 'music library.' I mean....where is everyone!?

As far as this CD goes it's simply all here....infectious melodies, sophisticated lyrics and a very danceable back beat that defies any listener not to at least tap his feet. Going into highlights would truly be redundant seeing how as an entire disc this album strongest 'highlight' would simply be how every track is able to work so marvelously well with the last one. Shades of Bacharach ( a God in my house! ) gathered with a touch of real Soul, Jazz plus a true 'Pop' senisibility rewards each song with a wonderfully atmospheric quality that I find impossible to deny. " Precious Words ", " Forever Blue " and You Are On My Mind " are tunes that are true gems and after listening to this wonderful disc for over two years now I find it's still one of those CD's that I constantly turn to late in the evening when I need to set a mood and drift off. And perhaps by ending this marvelous CD with two beautiful instrumentals " Forever Blue " and the hypnotic " Masquerade " and I find I'm still in awe of this bands abilities to create some incredible and infectious hooks in their songs.

Alright, now that I've 'waxed effusively' concerning this amazing duo I now promise to behave myself and keep my reviews a bit more 'middle of the road.' And as for SOS if by reading this critique and you're just slightly curious about this incredible discs ( I'm beginning to repeat my superlatives....which means it's time to go! ) take a chance and give this CD a listen. If you like it ( or even DON'T like it! ) feel free to e-mail me with your opinion. Imagine how thrilled ( and impressed! ) your friends will be at your next get-together when you put on SOS and the marvel at this 'new group' that you've recently discovered. A trand setter you will be....but we knew that! Didn't we?

I like this CD. No, I love this CD. I love the way Corrine Drewery sings torch songs. Nowhere in pop music is there a voice that blends so well with the instrumental accompaniment. In many ways the songs on "Kaleidoscope World" might seem average had another band performed it. But the variety of styles which Drewery fluidly manages to traverse make this album more than it may seem to appear on its first listen. It takes a few rounds of playing it to appreciate it. The song which stands out most, "Forever Blue" is a lovely torch song with its beautifully lilting 12/8 meter. The arrangement is a bit over-done, but not so much. "Waiting Game" typifies the bouncy, energetic style and on its first playing seems bland, but grows on you. The only track that could have been left out is "Tainted." All in all this is their best album, even over "It's Better to Travel." Very few singers can claim Drewery's lithe and sultry delivery, even on throw - away songs. Buy this one.

"Swing Out Sister" did it again with this collection. This actually outdoes "Twilight World." That is no easy feat! Get yourself a copy, press play and let the music move you...Five stars!

This was my first CD on SOS. There is excellence in everything about it, you can find bacharac and "onda nueva" rhythyms all together. This is a cd for background conversation music, crusing in the highway or just having a good wine while savouring the fine things in life.

COLORS THAT DIFFUSE, BRIGHTEN AND SWAY.CRISP BREEZES.SWOONING MELODIES. REFRESHING PHRASING AND ORCHESTRATION. A PURE VELVET TOUCH HERE.
CONNELL AND DREWERY turn up creative juices and change gears. this album celebrates two constants in their career which started with this recording.1a. never repeat the same thing.2b. show the world our range.
there is a tremendous nod to the 60's pop engine here but more over it has a opening movie score feel.TO BE MORE SPECIFIC it is the brainchild of SOMEWHERE DEEP IN THE NIGHT.
This recording holds its own with nostalgia to be sure but heartfelt and completely filler free of the trappings of what was on the radio at the time in the late 80's or what is on the radio now. for all that matters.

THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF THE LUSH, FLUID FEEL SWING OUT SISTER.
HOPE, EXUBERANCE, MELODIES, ORCHESTRA, HEART. TIMELESS, JAZZY WITH SONIC SOUNDSCAPES . NOT FOR YOU AVERAGE MUSIC LISTENERS.NOT COCKTAIL LOUNGE EITHER.CLEAN AND PURE. A GEM.