Labyrinthine Heart

Sleepthief | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 31, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Neurodisc
• ASIN: B002HWUU9K
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,891 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of 2009, September 3, 2009

By 

Tim "Timmy C" (Baltimore, MD, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Labyrinthine Heart (MP3 Download)

The original Sleepthief album was an intriguing blend of electronica and female vocals, similar in style to Delerium and Balligomingo. Each track had a different vocalist, and the result was spellbinding. That CD didn't leave my player for weeks and I still listen to it occasionally. A few of the songs sounded a bit "cluttered" to me - too many things happening at once, so while I loved the album, I felt there was room for improvement.

Three years later and we have "Labyrinthine Heart," the sophomore album from Sleepthief. I can't even begin to discuss how fantastic this album is. Gone are any traces of "clutter," and here we have proof that Sleepthief has realized its own sound. If forced to describe it using other artists, I would say it's like Delerium marrying Enya, honeymooning in classical England, but stopping briefly in the 80's to grab a few synthesizer effects. Almost all tracks have ridiculously beautiful multi-tracked vocal harmonies, allowing every vocalist to showcase his or her voice to the best of its abilities. This is one of the first albums in the different-vocalist-on-every-song electronica genre which feels like a cohesive piece of work rather than a mish-moshed collaboration fest.

The new album is much less "dancy" as the predecessor, and in place of such upbeat tracks are more sweeping/filmic/classical pieces. Many of them have minimal percussion, the beat being kept by strings and electronic pulses. Opener "Here I Confess" immediately displays this new style, with Joanna Stevens' heavenly vocals supported by a majestic orchestral backdrop. Other examples include "Ariadne," another Joanna Stevens piece, which is reminiscent of early Enya and feels like a journey through paradise; the haunting "A Kind of Magic" during which Zoe Johnston's otherworldy voice waxes and wanes; Coury Palermo and Zoe Johnston's duet "Reason Why," which reminds me of two former lovers singing to one another from different parts of the world, asking when/how/why; "Skimming Stones," sung by the otherwordly Kirsty Hawkshaw; and "Labyrinthine Heart," which sounds like Christmas-lullaby-meets-Viennese-waltz.

Several other songs channel the innocent spirit of the 80's, a vibe which I don't often hear in modern pop music. "Fire King" showcases Jody Quine's perfect voice and includes a chorus with an unpredictably beautiful chord change, and Roberta Carter Harrison takes lead vocal on Sleepthief's cover of Frida/Abba's "I Know There's Something Going On." The dance vibes are also present on lead single "World Gone Crazy" and Goldfrapp-esque "A Cut From The Fight." These are the two instant sing-along songs from the album and are instantly catchy.

Another standout is the beautifully moody "Reversals," with Kristy Thirsk, a moving piece in which Kristy sings angelically over a mid-tempo beat; this song also features a new sound for Sleepthief which sounds like an air raid siren - sounds crazy, but it works. The lyrics are very appropriate for the modern day, considering the state of the world lately.

While I took an instant liking to all of these tracks, it is Caroline Lavelle's "Rainy World" which had, and still has, the most effect on me. Words cannot describe how perfect this song is. It features the most poetic lyrics on the album, sung passionately by Caroline above a haunting backdrop. The instrumental breaks between vocals sound like a haunted carnival with Caroline's cello weaving its way through the electronic sounds. The song gradually builds throughout its duration to the final chorus, which is almost too intense to bear. Truly amazing, and probably the most well-written song of 2009.

This album should not go unnoticed. It is a mesmerizing, streamlined, emotional piece of work which is both modern and ancient, painting pictures of lovers lost on islands, mythological creatures, stormy nights leading to radiant dawns, castles shrouded in fog... I could go on. A polished effort from one of the best artists in the genre. Highly recommended!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Relax, it really is as good as the first one.....!!, August 25, 2009

By 

Manicstar (United Kingdom) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Labyrinthine Heart (Audio CD)

I won't pretend I wasn't a touch apprehensive, as a debut album the quality of The Dawnseeker was always going to be a tough act to follow, as like the first Conjure One and Balligomingo releases it is up there in my top 10 favourites ever and whilst I do love both their 2nd albums they never quite reached the same soaring heights but Labyrinthine Heart could well be joining the Dawnseeker up there pretty soon. The digipak packaging with it's atmospheric 'Amadeus' inspired images a perfect introduction to the music.

Both Joanna Steven's tracks with their multi-layered vocals have such a wonderful Celtic, Enya-like, quality to them and are so sweeping you'd think there was a full orchestra in the studio, 'Here I Confess' is so very lush and 'Ariadne' is equally haunting. Knowing 'World Gone Crazy' so well by now I was expecting it to stand out so much but it fits right in there as a stirring segue to 'Skimming Stones (reprise)' where the addition of classical guitar and the interplay between the guitar, piano and harp is genious - with the angelic choral vocals this has the feeling of a classic Christmas song almost. Next two tracks are my favourites - the title track with Jody Quine is both moving and evocative with the koto and melancholic violin and Zoe Johnston's voice on 'Kind of Magic' as always is so beautiful and haunting. Consequently I wasn't expecting the Yazoo/Trans X stylings and live drums of `Cut From the Fight' but it's amazing to hear Kristy Thirsk deliver this slice of 80's dare I say 'pop'? It certainly snapped me out of my reverie.... 'Rainy World' is so lyrical and almost like a Parisian tango with the accordion and strings passages. If one of the major labels picked up 'Reason Why' and gave it to a couple of major artists for a duet I could see this becoming a major success... I love it and Coury Palermo and Zoe Johnston are a match made in heaven. After letting loose again on Fire King (with a bigger intro this could have so easily opened the album), 'Reversals' is another classic Kristy performance and so haunting and atmospheric. And finally Roberta Carter-Harrison takes on Living on Video meets Frida on the Russ Ballard classic 'I Know Theres Something Going On' and against my better judgement as a fan of the original I really love it - the chunky strings and electronic beats make a euphoric end to the album.........

Justin Elswick really has succeeded beyond my wildest expectations and I can rest easy knowing that I will be able to listen to this album repeatedly as I did the Dawnseeker and it will no doubt grow as I discover new depths in the music and lyrics.

Just can't wait for the remix album and bonus tracks now.........!!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A soul stirring album featuring some of the best vocalists around, September 1, 2009

By 

N. Hawkins "whereishawkins" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Labyrinthine Heart (Audio CD)

I was a big fan of Sleepthief's first album, The Dawnseeker, because it was an excellent combination of haunting and stirring music that seemed to seize your emotions and take you on a ride. And the lyrics - if this album were an instrumental, it would stand on its own but the inclusion of some of the most amazing (and yet unheard of) female vocalists made The Dawnseeker stand out as an amazing album and placed Sleepthief in the realm of Delerium and Conjure One.

So naturally, I was fearful of the sophomore slump with Labyrintine Heart. However, where most musicians would have taken this opportunity to feel like they need to "dumb down" their music, Justin Elswick did the exact opposite: he made it more complex, rich and the result is blissful.

As for the vocalists, Elswick kept Jody Quine, who literally made my jaw drop on The Dawnseeker for two songs, showing how much of a treasure she is with her unnatural voice and how clean and precise it is. It's like a lyrical scalpel. Elswick also kept longtime trance vocalist/musician Kirsty Hawkshaw, who seemingly can do no wrong, and whose voice ages like fine wine and shows us how special she is. "Skimming Stones" was a song that makes you want to fall in love with her voice. I have a soft spot in my heart for the underappreciated musicians in Zoe Johnston and Caroline Lavelle, which every serious music lover should rush out to buy their albums. Rainy World with Lavelle was an amazing song. As for Zoe Johnston, any album with her vocals is a delicious treat. And her duet with Coury Palermo even worked out well in a genre that doesn't favor male vocalists. Rounding out the other vocalists is the former Rose Chronicles songstress Kristy Thirsk and Roberta Carter-Harrison.

I went in with high expectations despite initial pessimism about if they could top their first album, and not only did they meet my expectations, they far surpassed them. This album is one magical journey, and will make your heart weep and make you feel so much joy and love. I know it sounds crazy, but it really did work wonders and I can't wait to get home to do a repeat listen.