Customer Reviews

Laced/Unlaced

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This is a deluxe edition where the two CDs come in a hardcover book, and there is plenty of artwork and sheet music for the piece 'Unlaced'. There are only 2000 copies of this version, so it may be wise to snap this up whilst you still can.

If you know Emilie through Opheliac, or the Liar/The Dead Is The New Alive EP, I should tell you now, that this album is not like that. This album is purely violin and production wizardry you would come to expect from Emilie Autumn. That is not to say that this album is completely different, as the second disc sounds like a complicated instrumental version of the Opheliac album. If you enjoyed Emilie's 'Dominant' from Opheliac and 'Unlaced' from the EP, there is no reason why you won't like this.

About the album though. Generous as always, there are twenty-two tracks on this album. They come in two discs. The first disc is simply a re-release of the extremely rare first album of hers 'On A Day...' only, it has five unnamed live bonus tracks. This first disc is purely classical, based around her violin, most of which are compositions by well known composers such as Bach. Three of the tracks are her own compositions which sound very much like they go hand in hand with the other timeless classics on the album. These tracks were recorded when she was merely seventeen years old and showcases what a young talent she was. Personally, I prefer this first disc to the second, she throws her own arrangement and interpretation on to the pieces. Whilst she plays the baroque violin with charm and style, she is backed up with her distinctive other sounds of the lute, harpsichord and the baroque cello - just to make sure you get the full Emilie Autumn experience. She is distinctive, even with pieces that have been played by so many others.

The first disc was recorded in 1997. So ten years on, what does the new disc, recorded in 2007 have to offer that is different from her first? Out with the old, in with the new. Emilie abandons the baroque violin in exchange for the electric violin. This time round, everything you hear on this disc is down to Emilie, she plays all of the instruments (including that distinctive harpsichord she is so well known for) and produced the whole thing on her own. I may be bold in saying, this is a disc that you have heard nothing like before. Genius in composition (she wrote all the tracks on this disc) and flawless in their execution, Emilie delivers a sound to excite the mind. It opens with 'Unlaced' which was a sampler for this album on her last EP which is dark, brooding and atmospheric. The albums continues in the same vain, there are no weepy violin solos here. All packed with energy, some dark, and some just plain bouncy such as 'A Cure?' 'Face The Wall' is probably the most fascinating piece on here as it is solo electric violin and is the demonstration of Emilie's refreshing technique with the violin.

I see Amazon does not provide the track listing here, so I'll supply it:

Disc One:
1. La Folia
2. Recercada
3. Largo
4. Allegro
5. Adagio
6. Tambourin
7. Willow
8. Revelry
9. On A Day...
10. Bonus: Mystery Track 1
11. Bonus: Mystery Track 2
12. Bonus: Mystery Track 3
13. Bonus: Mystery Track 4
14. Bonus: Mystery Track 5

Disc Two:
1. Unlaced
2. Manic Depression
3. Leech Jar
4. A Strange Device
5. A Cure?
6. Syringe
7. Cold
8. Face The Wall

Both discs take some listening in order to appreciate the talent on display here. Some tracks may immediately jump out, whilst some are subtle. There is not one bad track on here. I'd highly recommend it to 'Opheliac' fans even if the fact there are no vocals puts you off - the style of the second disc is very much the same. If you love the violin, then there should be nothing stopping you here, as this is a new fascinating way for it to be heard. There is nobody quite like Emilie Autumn. I own a lot of violinist albums and no one comes anywhere near Emilie - not even Vanessa-Mae.

I can only see doing this in 2 parts, because the cds are of completely different nature...

Laced:

This is a trip back in time to 1997 and her time with On a Day. She flaunts her skill with the classical violin. She shows her prowess at composing original work with Willow, Revelry and On a Day. The 5 mystery songs aren't so mysterious to Classical music buffs. But they are all amazing songs, I assure you.

Unlaced:

"Let the Violindustrial revolution begin" indeed. All new instrumental songs using the harpsichord and E-violin. I have no complaints about the music at all. Completely amazing. It blows my mind. She greatly improved her drum machine skills. Which is very good.

All in all this CD is amazing, she shows her two sides as well as her versatility. It shows how she has evolved since her 1997 debut. Following this young aspiring artist to world fame will be quite amazing.

The hardcover is really a book, and the cd case all in one. Its not terribly big, but its big enough. The music and everything makes this a very worth while purchase.

This was a really wonderful CD. The songs are very powerful and well played. There are 2 CDs. One of her electric violin and the other is accoustic. Both CDs are quite generous in songs and quality, well worth the price. I'd say even if your not a fan of EA but of classical or instrumental music this is great.

Laced/Unlanced truely shows Emilie Autumn is the goddess of the violin; Both Electric & Classical. With her corset Laced tight she brings new life to classics and brings to life original compositions. When Unlaced she shows even more talent and does what no other can do in her own unique style.

I was somewhat iffy when I first heard of this girl, I've seen far too many self-indulgent "artistes" writing dark music with a NIN-like edge to it to get pumped up from a suggestion from a friend. Well, was I mistaken, Emilie Autumn is not only startlingly original, dark and inspired...she's an amazingly talented musician to boot. No 3 triad progressions on this album, everything from the neo-classical first disk to the dark and "tarnished" (that's a good thing) sounding second disc is saturated with a surprising and refreshing SKILL, which is something that has become an all to infrequent word in the gothic/neo-classical genre. Emilie Autumn has hints of everything from Dead Can Dance's musical sensibilities to Downloads experimentalism and even hints of Zappa's humor.

I must say I'm very, very excited to see what this young lady has to offer in the future and I'll be among the first to grab tickets if she ever comes around to Canada. Well worth the money to say the very least.

Two CD's of the perfection that is the talented, Ms. Autumn. She not only shares her beautiful lyricism with the original pieces on violin, but throws in some wonderful classics by Bach and Corelli. Emilie Autumn always proves in a CD that she's one step above anything else out there. She is just chock-full of unstoppable talent. This is a piece of art.

Item was in very good condition. Quick shipping. Only the cd case was a little bit damaged, but nothing that can't be fixed.

After OPHELIAC, Emilie Autumn created quite an impressive fanbase with a refreshingly new sort of style that she calls Victoriandustrial (music for wayward girls ~ though men your welcome, too). She quickly followed that up with this limited edition 2-cd set (something like 1,000 copies made), making this a collectors item and a real gem for fans of her music; not so much her voice. I say this because you won't hear even a smigeon of that here. Just simply Emilie with her many "devices".

While I don't think Emilie will completely abandon the original violin, Laced/Unlaced represents her past and her future. LACED is more of a mellow disc with traditional classical pieces as well as a few originals while UNLACED is a lot more eccentric and harsh. It's got the same victoriandustrial sound you'll hear on OPHELIAC only with more of a metal influence, shredded not with the usual guitar but with her new weapon of choice, the electric violin. The instrument suits her well I think but I hope in the future that she takes the intensity down a notch as heard on "A Strange Device".

Overall, worth owning if the price is right.

It's good classical music. But you have to pay attention to who wrote the songs on the first cd. I didn't, and was more than a little suprised by what I heard.