Customer Reviews

Mating Game

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album sounds like everything. Alright, that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but to anyone who's heard the entire thing all the way through, you can probably agree. But this review isn't for all of you who know what this sounds like, this is for those of you that are sitting at your computer, thinking about purchasing this. Why should you? Why should you indeed. I'll break it down.

1. Kiran Shahani (the male half) used to be part of Supreme Beings of Leisure.

2. Shana Halligan (the female half) has a voice that is sometimes reminiscent of Esthero, sometimes reminiscent of Goldfrapp, and probably a ton of other like-styled singers all balled up into a pretty red-headed package.

3. If you like Esthero, Portishead, Supreme Beings of Leisure, Goldfrapp, Lazy, the Herb Alpert remix project, Fluke, Moloko (or just the singer, Roisin Murphy), you will love this album.

4. Each song caters to a different audience while still remembering everyone who listened to the last song.

While it remains tough to pick a favorite, the song that "broke" me to this group was "Dirty Laundry". Never before have I been so in-touch, so supportive, so...enamored with a self-professed bad girl. Shana coos the line "and when he needs an alibi he can use me...all night" with a feminine shyness that would make Nicole Kidman a la Moulin Rouge blush. And you wouldn't exactly be wrong in calling The Mating Game the hidden soundtrack to Moulin Rouge, either. The entire album plays through like a dirty secret that you're almost eager to share with everyone just so they know how innocent you aren't.

Just when you thought you'd heard one too many female-fronted, ambient-infused electronic acts (Oh no! Not another Portishead-inspired British import!), along comes Bitter:Sweet, a two-person, Los Angeles-born act whose sensuously smooth grooves may restore your faith in the increasingly overcrowded genre. Things get off to a rather delicious start with the sultry "Don't Forget to Breathe," which makes great use of singer Shana Halligan's sensual alto (at times, a dead ringer for that of Esthero; at others, Gwen Stefani). The duo then segues into a crazy-sexy-cool collection of mod-rock masterpieces that might easily be home on any Austin Powers (or, indeed, James Bond) soundtrack. Highlights like the jazzy title track and the giddy "Dirty Laundry" showcase Halligan and bandmate Kiran Shahani's knack for accenting their addictive melodies with kitschy sounds and arrangements, while the beguiling drum `n' bass-drenched rhythms of down-tempo numbers like the rock-ier "Overdue," "Our Remains" and (appropriately) "Moody" effortlessly evoke one too many nights spent downing martinis in darkened after-hours lounges. Not that that's a bad thing.

This is the best new artist I've heard in a long long time. Every song is so well crafted.

They have a very unique retro sound, that's fused with breakbeat and drum n bass, a little Brazilian swing and some loungy aspects as well. The whole album has a great vibe and there isn't one bad or out of place song.

There is so much happening sonically; you have to put the album on repeat.

It's difficult to categorize this infectious mix of Thievery Corporation-groove beats, MMW-ish funk, John Barry-esque 60's sweeping orchestra, Portishead-like vocals and sampling, etc., etc..

Listen to above Amazon soundbites, but songs develop into much more than those snapshots.

Title track is strong, but "Dirty Laundry" is great, then "Overdue" segues nicely into "Heaven".

It just seems to end up in my CD player a lot!

What you immediately hear is a level of musicianship that is far beyond what you're used to from most 'elecronica' classified music. I am one of those people who can't stand listening to an entire CD by one group in a sitting, but I love listening to this one. The songs all have the same 'sound' and 'musical identity' but are different and varied enough within the genre 9by subtly mixing in other genres) to keep it interesting. I have not been so impressed with a CD as a whole, which is to say that every single track is strong, in decades.

Music is not always the same. I knew that, but the point was driven home when I sat down to do this review. Bitter:Sweet is brand new to me. Their debut album, The Mating Game, was released in April 2006 by Indie label Quango Music Group, Inc. I received the CD to review after asking one of my media representatives for something different and unusual. That is exactly what I got.

Shana Halligan and Kiran Shahani (former Supreme Beings of Leisure) make up Bitter:Sweet. After meeting in Los Angeles, the duo decided they wanted to do something different and break out of the typical LA music scene. With Kiran as the producer, composer and Shana handling the vocals, melodies, lyrics and co-producer duties, the two have created a sound that is definitely not LA usual.

Their music genre is best described as Pop/Electronica/Trip Hop. Shana has written story driven lyrics that she sings in a heartfelt sexy-sweet style. The album has a very psychedelic feel to it and while I was listening, I kept getting images in my head of old romantic black and white movies. I also sensed an upbeat retro lounge feel and that's not a bad thing. It's different and being different in today's music world is good. It gets you noticed and I feel Bitter:Sweet's debut album is worth such notice. The mix of original writing and techno pop type musical arrangements is eclectic and eccentric at the same time.

Bitter:Sweet is making several new leaps in the industry and you can follow their musical itinerary on their MySpace page. I found some interesting tidbits. You all know how I get excited about music and television and Bitter:Sweet can be heard on Grey's Anatomy and Nip Tuck.

The Album:
Bitter:Sweet
The Mating Game
April 2006
Quango Music Group, Inc.
Indie Label

* Don't Forget to Breathe
* The Mating Game
* Overdue
* Heaven
* Bittersweet Faith
* Moving Forward
* Moody
* Dirty Laundry
* Our Remains
* Salty Air
* Take 2 Blue

This was the type of album that you can play at a party, for a nice romantic dinner, while cleaning, or as a great sound track for writing. I really enjoyed this project and I'm looking forward to more of Bitter:Sweet's work! I encourage you to give it a try. Be different!

I'm listening to it right now as I write this review. I randomly bought this CD tonight and I am really enjoying it. "Heaven" is a funky, sexy song. I imagine this CD will be quite popular at parties and (ahem) in the bedroom.
And, you know...I like Bitter:Sweet better than Bjork and Portishead right now!

Seriously, just buy the album.

With all the cookie-cutter bands popping up left and right, Bitter:Sweet is undoubtedly one of the greatest breaths of fresh air music has seen in a long time. I was immediately hooked from the moment I heard one song, and needed to hear more. This album definitely deserves more than 5 stars.

I won't say comparing them to a band like Esthero is "unfair", I'm just saying, I think they're are in their own vein. Bitter:Sweet takes pretty much every sound you've ever heard, and filters through them to make TRULY unique experience for the listeners. Their creativity shines from brass horns to live DJs, and an exceptionally well-presented female voice. Their sound alone is worth checking out. The other reviewers have more to say about the actual lyrical content, but the band is so good it's not even necessary.

I bought this CD as a recommendation from a friend who knows i love trip/hop like portishead, zero7, the sneaker pimps, ethero, hooverphonic, goldfrapp..etc. and although bittersweet doesnt sound too much like them (except for maybe esthero), i still loved the cd. It has a very cool almost vintage sound to it and is great for parties. I recently threw a dinner party and threw this cd on and it was quite a hit! definetly recommend it! Favorite songs: the mating game, bittersweet faith, and dirty laundry, but the whole cd overall is a lot of fun!

It was a sweet surprise bought for one song but enjoying the entire cd. I've had many friends ask me "who's this" when I'm playing it. Originally bought it because of the title song appearing on Grey's Anatomy. After listening to it, there are a couple of other songs that have appeared in Korbel champagne ads.