Customer Reviews

Labyrinthine Heart

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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!

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.........!!

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.

I will freely admit: I'm just shy of being a Justin Elswick groupie. Justin is one of the most talented, gracious, down-to-earth musicians I've ever had the pleasure to know. I say this with good humor: when I grow up, I want to be like Justin. :)

As with many people, I was and still am blown away by Justin's debut "The Dawnseeker". Compare it to Enigma, Delerium, Balligomingo, Conjure One, Blue Stone, Achillea, Mythos, Sarah Brightman and on and on and on until your eyes bleed, but if you take the time to dig a little deeper and really *LISTEN* to Sleepthief, you'll find something completely different and wholly inspired. Before I begin my review of "Labyrinthine Heart", I'll say in no uncertain terms: "The Dawnseeker" was just the tip of the iceberg, people.

"Labyrinthine Heart" consists of so many different layers; there is something here for nearly every musical taste. All the tracks are so different, and yet blend together seamlessly. Now, there are very distinct traces of Dawnseeker here, but "Labyrinthine Heart" is a different animal. The songs on LH are more sweeping, symphonic and cinematic. There are fewer electronic elements here, and more musical and lyrical depth. I look at "The Dawnseeker" as a bit of a prequel to this album.

The standout tracks here are first and foremost, the duet with the incomparable Zoe Johnston and Sleepthief's first male vocalist, Coury Palermo entitled "Reason Why". Vocally, these two are a match made in music heaven. The chemistry and emotion combined with deeply layered harmonies, all backed by one of the most emotional music tracks I have ever heard all combine to make one of the most perfect and beautiful songs ever recorded.

Second, the reprise of "Skimming Stones" is otherworldly. The original version of the song was featured on the "Sirenes" compilation quite a long time before the release of LH. The reprise included on this album features re-recorded vocals by the lovely Kirsty Hawkshaw, and acoustic guitar from Balligomingo's Vic Levak all intertwined with subtle synths and a stunning harp arrangement. The lyrics to this song, penned by Kirsty Hawkshaw, are simply breathtaking. Justin has said that this song is probably his most personal to date.

Another favorite of mine is "A Kind of Magic", again featuring Zoe Johnston on vocals. This song has a lot of the flavor of "Dawnseeker". The electronic beats and synths are plentiful here and complement Zoe's voice beautifully.

"Ariadne (The Dividing Sea)" with Joanna Stevens on the mic didn't grab me right away, but upon repeated listen, this song is now one of my favorites from the album. Lyrically, this one is another gem.

And then we come to the title track from the album, the subdued, classical-tinged, almost
'minuet-esque' track "Labyrinthine Heart" with Jody Quine on vocals. The only thing I can possibly compare this song to is a very delicate piece of sonic lace. It's almost fragile in its beauty.

So, while all the tracks on this sophomore CD from Justin Elswick are wonderful in their own right, the ones listed above stand out as my favorites. No, this album is not "The Dawnseeker", but it doesn't need to be. It is a musical entity all its own, and definitely can hang with DS. It's a new musical direction for Sleepthief, and a damn good one. You'd do well to plunk down your money for this transcendent, beautiful, multilayered musical experience.

Back in 2006 the world was introduced to a wonderful music project called "Sleepthief" and it's talented creator, Justin Elswick. The Dawnseeker was Sleepthief's first album and I was enthralled by the music.

When I learned Justin was working on a second album, I was naturally thrilled. When Labyrinthine Heart was finally released in 2009, I couldn't wait to get my copy. I certainly wasn't disappointed. Labyrinthine Heart is just as magical and enthralling as The Dawnseeker. There is a sensuality and vulnerability woven throughout the album: the lyrics, music and voices reach an emotional touchstone in my heart and I can totally get lost in it.

Justin is someone who has a passion for music that seems to be a dying art these days. Not only does he care about the music he creates, but he also cares about the listener. It's simple: anyone can release an album these days: there are countless numbers of throwaway bands and singers manufactured by money hungry producers who top the charts for all of five minutes and then are forgotten as quickly. But then there is the kind of music that stays with you and makes a lasting impression. I count Justin and the vocalists associated with Sleepthief as true artists of this caliber.

My particular favorite on the album is "A Cut From The Fight". For me there is a distinct retro vibe akin to the synth pop that was so popular in the 80's (for me the last great decade of mainstream popular music) Kristy Thirsk's voice is a perfect fit to the song which brings me too..

the amazing cast of voices showcased here. There are some familiar voices who were first heard on "The Dawnseeker", Kristy Thirsk (as I pointed out in the aforementioned paragraph) and also Kristy Hawkshaw, Jody Quine and Caroline Lavelle, and Roberta Carter Harrison... but there are also voices new to Sleepthief and most welcomed: Joanna Stevens, Coury Palermo and Zoe Johnston. Each singer encompasses the feel and the emotion of each song in an absolute perfect manner. From the opening, hauntingly beautiful: "Here I Confess" (Joanna Stevens) to the bold and catchy "I know There's Something Going On" (Roberta Carter Harrison), every song has it's own story.

To tie up this review in a few simple sentences I will say this: If you liked The Dawnseeker, I'm confident you will find Labyrinthine Heart just as captivating. If you're new to Sleepthief, then both albums are a must in your music library. I'm looking forward to Sleepthief's next chapter.

Tracing the heritage of Sleepthief is not difficult to do: Inspired by Balligomingo, which was inspired by Delerium, which let's be honest, is inspired by the Grandaddy of them all, Enigma. Michael Cretu is the gold standard of this style of Ethno-fusion electronica, and in the eyes of many all of the disciples fall well short. That said, Delerium is probably as good as any of the copies will get and others like Blue Stone and Buddha Sounds show flashes of brilliance.

But let's get back to the matter at hand, Sleepthief's second album Labyrinthine Heart, which is not a bad album despite the unwieldy title and the less-than-organic feel of most of the songs. Sleepthief's Justin Elswick has done well here considering he's a full-time lawyer that moonlights as a musician, and he has made all the right -- if uninspired -- moves by recruiting familiar-to-the-genre voices such as Kristy Thirsk, Zoe Johnston and Kirsty Hawkshaw. He even recruited Vic Levak from Balligomingo to help, who himself worshipped at the alter of Bill Leeb of Delerium.

I mention all this because, depending on how you look at it, this information will have one of two effects on you -- you will appreciate the obvious pedigree or you will be disappointed by the lack of originality. I'm in the latter category, approaching the proceedings as if it's a Balligomingo side project, and on those terms it is a success. But if you look at it as an original standalone artist, Sleepthief feels like a Delerium clone, with only the best of these songs rating as Delerium b-sides (the notable exceptions being "Reversals" and "Fire King" which stand alone as solid efforts in the genre).

That said, many of the songs sound like half-baked Enya efforts and the final cover of "Something Going On" incongruously sounds like an ill-advised club remix. The further Sleepthief distances itself from New Age and electronic dance music, the better.

Sleepthief

Labyrinthine Heart


"Here I will stay all of my life. I'll wait for your kiss and your smile, and here, I'll believe I'm in your arms pulling you closer to me."



These are but a taste of the heartfelt, rhythmical lyrics found on the new Sleepthief album, Labyrinthine Heart. Filled with blissful, ambient synthesizer pads, full ensembles of brass and strings, and voices that capture the essence of the soul, this album is raises the bar for eclectic, angelic composition.

Sleepthief, created by Justin Elswick, combines the beauty of musical magic and vocal captivation in ways that only the finest team can bring together. Along with a large team including Israel Curtis, Joanna Stevens, Coury Palermo, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Jody Quine, Zoe Johnston, Kristy Thirsk, Caroline Levelle, and Roberta Carter Harrison, Elswick delivers exquisite sounds from brilliant minds to our aspiring ears.

The album opens perfectly with a gorgeous track entitled "Here I Confess", and continues to make it's way to a more toe-tapping rhythm while not losing its sweet, somber essence. The track "Rainy World" blends these two aspects perfectly. Listeners will find themselves bobbing their head in no time while being taken away by this meditative music.

To envision waterscapes, green meadows, or sunlit forests would be commonplace while listening to this album. The album art alone, provided by Brian Son, will surely aid in your quest for eclectic day dreams.

Labyrinthine Heart is packed full of glorious music that will keep even those who are slightly interested in this genre entertained through all twelve tracks. To those who are fans of jazz, electronic, new age, and acoustic music, this is a must have album.

Sleepthief - Labyrinthine Heart releases August 31st. Get your copy as soon as possible, and let your mind and soul be whisked away to the dream lands that only Sleepthief can provide... '''''

Labyrinthine Heart strikes an inspiring "chord" -- uplifting, beautiful, and at times relaxing...other times go go go / move it / move it / move it, motivational -- emotionally and intellectually.

The common thread of ethereal vocals and beautiful melodies and lush arrangements are what forms a cohesive thread from track to track.

Labyrinthine Heart features amazing vocalists: Kirsty Hawkshaw, Kristy Thirsk, Jody Quine, Caroline Lavelle, Zoë Johnston, Coury Palermo, Joanna Stevens, Roberta-Carter-Harrison.


Here are my IMPRESSIONS, thoughts, mental images that come to mind as I listen to each track:

1. Here I Confess (ft. Joanna Stevens)

A gentle voice rises, quietly at first. Voices build steadily as the confessor is drawn into the light by the sound of a harp. Reaching upward, the confessor is lifted by angels, voices soaring. Hearts ascend effortlessly toward a lofty mountain glen. In the shadow of a magnificent cathedral, chimes announce a welcoming procession of kindred-spirits, transfixed by orchestral strings, manifested in brilliant pillars of light.


2. World Gone Crazy (ft. Coury Palermo)

Pensive, steady, bass, drives rhythm forward as round arpeggios denote mindful lucidity--a balance of stead-fast purpose and child-like fascination...openness. A fond memory. Chords progress, clear voices build in unison and harmony, giving way to unbridled elation... Strings... Guitar.... Piano... A veiled heart--hints of vastness. Drums. Falling. Uncertainty. The retreat--comfort, safety. Reflection. Strings. Searching...


3. Skimming Stones (reprise) (ft. Kirsty Hawkshaw)

Enchanting, ALLURING VOICE, calling from afar--destiny... BEAUTIFUL MELODY superbly vocalized. Gentle harp, strings, guitar--longing... A heart races. Celestial ahh's--elation... Strings, guitar, piano--comfort... Celestial ahh's--trust... Purpose, responsibility--focus... Destiny.


4. Labyrinthine Heart (ft. Jody Quine)

The stage is set by a reminiscence of muted sitar, bassy udu, tremolo kanoun, gentle oud, Celtic bouzouki, tinkling glockenspiel-like bells and harp -- all craftily woven together. ANGELIC PURE VOICE of milk and honey, cello, harp, guitar--soothing, consoling, healing. Introspection. Harp, bells, horns, concert bass, guitar, cello--hope, daylight, sustaining, freedom -- soon.


5. A Kind of Magic (ft. Zoë Johnston)

An opening of light, staccato guitar, horn intervals, and classic Sleepthief rhytmic, tonal, arpeggios. Rich vocal harmonies...surrounding, embracing, protecting, captivating, enchanting--MAGIC. A warm place, a heart of gladness--expressed vocally, musically.


6. A Cut From The Fight (ft. Kristy Thirsk)

Classic rolling, rhythmic arpeggios, old-school squares, and staccato sines, GALORE. Toes-a-tapping and heads-a-bobbing, while smooth as ice vocals propel our protagonist forward--right out the door. "You can go left I will go right." A slice out of life, indeed!


7. Rainy World (ft. Caroline Lavelle)

Pulsating, rhythmic, panoramic chord progressions, alternating with semi-syncopated beats. Smooth, sultry, SUMPTUOUS, hypnotic vocals. The melody is infectious--"can't get it out of my head," with twisty little turns and subtle in-line key changes, delving deeply into that holy grail of all musical erogenous zones. MASTER cello rifts and intervals--amazing strings all around. Yes, the addiction to artfully crafted musical delights is well and truly gorged on this masterpiece! But there's more! The lyrics are pure and unequivocal GENIUS, with an artful level of ambiguity, yet resonating on SO MANY levels, and a POWERFUL, direct parting blow. Whoah! GOOSE-BUMPS.


8. Ariadne (the Dividing Sea) (ft. Joanna Stevens)

Child-like opening vocal, cresting on top of beautifully arranged strings, guitar, and piano and horns. LUSH, well-balanced orchestrations. BEAUTIFUL melody telling a moving story that is sure to resonate as much as it evokes a certain empathy for the protagonist.


9. Reason Why (ft. Zoë Johnston And Coury Palermo)

Soft, understated ethereal organ, and piano lead into the RICH vocals, building toward alternating solo and layered harmonies. Exquisite in its simplicity, this POWERFUL duet strikes a chord both musically and emotionally.


10. Fire King (ft. Jody Quine)

Snappy beats, a bouncy bass-line, and crystal clear ANGELIC VOCALS, drive the verses. The opening phrases of the chorus are irresistibly catchy.


11. Reversals (ft. Kristy Thirsk)

Deep slow pulsing bass, beneath moving intervals, leading to guitar and classic Sleepthief bassy-arpeggio, cast a mildly eerie tone in the opener and verses, reflecting troublesome realities of everyday life. The chorus resonates, a message of hope and encouragement to remain vigilant, because "Our love will see us through all times" -- adjust that attitude and make your own REVERSAL.


12. I Know There's Something Going On (ft. Roberta Carter-Harrison)

Driving strings and über-throb-bass-line, keep it going on in this superbly orchestrated and deftly vocalized DANCE track. Very nicely done!


--

In summary, the music on Labyrinthine Heart is inspiring, motivational, emotionally, and intellectually well-rounded. With this release, Sleepthief, delivers a thought-provoking sonic "catalyst" to open a window into the soul.

In a word, Labyrinthine Heart is simply AMAZING.

Sleepthief... just the name alone evokes mystery and the secrets of a timeless wisdom. But who is the man behind the title? His name is Justin Elswick, and he brings with him a slew of extremely gifted vocalists, a talent for high-fidelity audio recording and mixing, and a raw and honest soul that he shares with his listeners on a whole new level then ever before in this new album, titled Labyrinthine Heart.

Make no mistake - it is Justin Elswick - his hard work and songwriting capacity that is the core of what makes the Sleepthief albums great. Looking at the cover art, you see a man painted in dark blues and blacks with his head down, contemplative. There's a timelessness about it, beckoning you into the depths of his heart and what he has to share in his music. Justin has an ancient and charming way of seeing the world, an aspect of his songwriting which he mixes with electronic sounds of the future, creating a harmonious blend of sweeping soundscapes, that at times, will pull at something deep within you.

Upon first hearing Labyrinthine Heart, I was skeptical. Parts of it didn't seem like the Sleepthief from the first album, the Dawnseeker. I wondered whether this would be the direction that his music would go, as some of the songs seemed more hyped, with a very 80's pop sound, and I wasn't sure if I liked that. The jury is still out on some of these songs, but overall, it is hard for me to say anything bad about this man or his music. I had high expectations for his next album, and he has met them with Labyrinthine Heart. Sleepthief's music stands out from the crowd. I'm so tired of hearing the same-ol-same-ol in pop culture and music. I'm tired of hearing teen-pop without much soul, boring music which follows the same cookie-cutter formula of dips and peaks. This is not Sleepthief. When you hear his music and listen to the lyrics, as wells as the voice of the singers and the arrangement, you will realize that you really have something special in your CD player, or your iPod, or your computer. You have something golden, original, and unlike anything else out there on the market.

Let me begin to explain why...

In two words: one vision.

Justin Elswick is smart and gracious. He writes music with a human element, exploring both weakness and courage, stretching himself and painstakingly constructing his sounds to perfection in order to best represent those emotions. Believe it or not, this is very rare, and it shows in the final product. Many big names in the music industry are simply faces who sing on the tracks that somebody else wrote or that somebody played the instruments for or that somebody else mixed and mastered. But with Justin's music, you can tell he is the voice behind his music. This honesty and hard work makes a difference with the final product, even with his choice of vocalists.

Sleepthief is quality through and through.

Reason Why:

Reason Why stood out to me right away as by-and-large the masterpiece of this album. This song is the best example of everything I've been telling you about so far. It is raw and completely honest. Justin is not afraid to let us know who he is. His masculinity is not compromised through revealing himself through such a tender love song. Most men would be afraid to do this. They'd rather write rap or rock to sound tough. It takes a lot more courage to put your heart on your sleeve like Justin has done with this song. Secondly, the vocalists, Coury Palermo and Zoe Johnston, are world class in their presentation. I think they understand what he is trying to do here and they sing their parts to convey those emotions without restraint. Their voices are a perfect match, and almost blend together identically, to form one, strong voice. I would love to hear these two musicians match up their voices again and again into the future. The mixture is music to my ears.

Skimming Stones:

Skimming Stones is the song that first drew me into Sleepthief's music. I heard his music before, but Skimming Stones was when I really became an avid fan. There are two versions of this song, the version from this album, and the version from the compilation CD, titled Sirenes: The Beauty of the Female Voice. The Sirenes version is my favorite of the two; however this version has a lot to offer as well. The song features UK vocalist Kirsty Hawkshaw. Her accent and vocal inflection add enough uniqueness to really draw you in. Again, like Zoe and Coury, in Reason Why, I really feel like Kirsty understands the message that Justin is trying to tell in Skimming Stones. She digs deep, stretching her voice to its fullest capacity and really letting it shine. Reaching to the heart of the song, the place she sings from feels at one with the surrounding composition. How often does that happen? It's really a special thing and I think you'll realize what I'm talking about if you choose to listen to this song for yourself.

One part I love about Justin's music is that each song tells a human story. A prime example being Eurydice from his first album, the Dawnseeker. Justin is a musical storyteller, and his best songs culminate with a strong message that will punch you in the gut when you finally realize its true meaning. Here's a sampling of the lyrics from Skimming Stones:

I'd sink in that bliss, in that oneness
Lord, I still don't really know how to love you
The way you love me - I don't feel worthy
And I envy the eyes of those who do
Lord, I don't know the way you love me
And if I knew it then somehow I'd remember
The trust, that openness, and I would make true decisions
Looking straight ahead instead of following directions
Out of line to the left or right
In the arms of a lover
In the endless starry night...
I've done that all my life
These skimming stones decide

The message I got out of this is that you can skip along through life like a "skimming stone" or you can "look ahead, instead of following directions." So often we simply do what we are told, or believe in what we were raised to believe in, without doing our own study and finding out what we really believe and want for ourselves. It takes courage to do that, and that is what I got out of this song.


World Gone Crazy:

This song is faster paced and has a heavier groove to it. It's really grown on me, and I love all the different nuances between the various versions. You can literally pick whichever one you like the best with this song as there are about thirteen versions of it. Find the one you like the most. Needless to say, I'll focus on the album version in this review.

The album version of World Gone Crazy, is in my opinion, one of the best versions of it. It's not quite as dance or disco oriented as the other versions, but still has some strong electronics beats in it. Coury Palermo was the perfect choice for a vocalist. Before Palermo, Sleepthief vocalists were all female. Palermo was an excellent choice in my opinion, as his voice seems to shine in the tenor range, without sounding feminine, and providing a contrast to some of the other female voices. Choosing a male vocalist would have been a gamble for Sleepthief without Palermo, but with him, it's a no-brainer.

World Gone Crazy, like Skimming Stones, tells a human story, but is not as easy to find. It helps to watch the music video that goes with this. Like many of Justin's songs, he draws heavily on symbolism and mythology. The video for this song shows a wounded bunny trying to escape a beautiful vampire woman in a white dress with a wolf.

Intrigued yet?

I had to watch the video four times to get the message, but once the lights went on, I was left in awe. It gets crazy with his videos, from symbolism of animals like the snake, or the wolf, or the bunny, each carries a meaning that matches the message of the song. I'll leave it to you to find the messages in his songs and the others, as like all good art, much of it is in the eye of the beholder.

These are some of my favorite songs from this album. I'll stop here because this review is going very long. Needless to say, you can't go wrong with Sleepthief. Give his songs a listen, and the odds are there will be something in there that touches you personally, and speaks to you. This is the power of his music.

With Dawnseeker being such a great CD I was a little nervous about what Labyrinthine Heart was going to hold in store for me. What I found was yet another CD full of pure talent - from the music, to the lyrics, to the vocals. I am not a huge fan of male vocals most of the time but I was impressed with Coury Palermo - he has a great voice and it blends very well. Skimming Stones is probably one of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. There is something about this song - the music, the vocals, the lyrics - it just takes me to another place. Justin Elswick, Sleepthief, has put together yet another great CD. There was definitely no disappointment in this. Still not a fan of remakes but I will say that "There's Something Going On" is fun, upbeat and fresh. Great job!