Customer Reviews

One

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4 star:		(2)
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Female vocalist Dierdre Dubois of Ekova, simply known here as Dierdre, releases her first solo album, 'One', on Six Degrees Records. Ekova, signed to the same label, is one of my favorite groups when it comes to modern-world music and a lot of that has to do with the unique style in which Deirdre sings in so of course when I heard that she was working on a solo project it was a no-brainer that I'd have to get my hands on a copy of it. And although I am certainly not disappointed with 'One', some of the songs did take a while to grow on me. Tracks that instantly took a hold on me, though, were "Waiting For Spring", "Firefly", "Nights In White Satin", "Close To Us", "Sweet and Sticky Perfume", "A Way To Love", and "Thoughts Of You". She sings in both French and English, infusing a heavier use of electronics than ever before with funky trip-hop and smooth, melodic lounge beats, incorporating influences from Karsh Kale on "A Maid In Love" and Ekova bandmate Mehdi Haddab on several others. She's careful of not steering too far from the sound fans have come to love and appreciate but experiments just enough to create something that's different from what she's done in the past.

Her distinctly beautiful voice and equally evocative cover art are definitely worth purchasing this for... And please check out Ekova if you haven't already!

There are still those that claim that electronic music is soul-less. Its made by people on computers who aren't necessarily musicians and don't play any real instruments, therefore they say it lacks the human element that other genres incorporate to move their audience.

Well for those of you still trapped in that mindset I invite you to check out "One". Not only does this record defy that thought but it should enhance your opinion of the capabilites and potential of progressive electronic music.

I was not aware of Dierdre prior to this solo debut however her previous projects were I believe more world/ethno music in nature. "One" is truly a blend of electronic, techno, world & soul and even flirts with the lighter side of drum and bass. The vocals needless to say are nothing short of breathtaking.

Highlights are the opener "Waiting For Spring", "Close To Us" & my personal favorite "A Way To Love". Also included and I believe the 1st emphasis track is an unrecognizable cover of The Moody Blues "Nights In White Satin".

This record is truly fantastic in every regard and a great reminder of how good electronic music can be.

I have followed Dierdre the songbird from Ekova for years. This album is rich with her vocals, she seems to be evoking a lot of emotions throughout this latest release. I have listened to it several times and each time I notice something new that I didn't hear before. Her voice soars to the stars, and then lands in your soul. This girl knows how to reach far into your heart through song. It breaks away from the ekova style without losing the beauty that she brought to the ekova sound with her amazing [for lack of a better word] voice. buy it, you won't regret it.

"Ten thousand miles couldn't keep you
For you were more like the wind
All my life I will seek you
Deep in the core of my within"
~One of Your Smiles

After a somewhat striking and captivating start, melodious waves of sound dance around Dierdre's presence as if echoing off clouds in an expansive sky. Waiting for Spring invites you into an otherworldly experience far removed from casual pop, but not foreign to lovers of electronic playfulness. Catchy beats swirl in whirlpools of Dierdre's voice, mingling in exciting rhythms of poetic expression.

You can become lost in the intensity of her voice as it seems to pull you under in Night in White Satin. If you could take a breath and then sink to the floor of a warm ocean, this is the mood and the space. Drawing on a variety of cultures for inspiration, she weaves a multicultural dance of sounds that range from primal and exciting to comforting and subtle in beauty. I've rarely heard music this unique.

Dierdre's voice captures you in a sensual net of sound and sends your soul spinning to exotic soundscapes, sensuous revelations in English and French and lyrical release in unique vocalizations of free expression to suit each song's mood.

At times hypnotic, I feel myself lost in sound, pulling away from reality into the ecstasy of distinctive expression. As the music concludes, you can finally take a deep sigh and relax into the sweet beauty of One of Your Smiles.

~The Rebecca Review

I recently had the pleasure of receiving a copy fo Diedre's solo album "One". I was awfully curious to hear what she sounded like. Her album cover intrigued me so I had put it on my wish list. I have to admit the music had to grow on me before I could make a final decision. Deirdre has a voice that is nothing that I have ever heard or rarely hear in music today. "One" is interesting, if not unique mix of electro-pop songs. One (no pun intended) of my favorite songs is the first single "Firefly" with its club-friendly beats. I also enjoyed her cover of the Moody Blues' "Nights in White Satin" although I didn't recognize the song. She the turns the song into a sexy, laid back, trip hop track. The only flaw is that in the process the song lost its original identity. I would have liked to have heard some of the original melodies. "More Than the Ocean" reminds me of an old Eurythmics song, namely "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves". It has that similiar hook. Good song though. While I do like "One" a lot, it took me a few listens for the music and Dierdre's vocals to settle in. I also hope for future solo albums, Dierdre will pick up the pace a bit like on "Firefly". I kinda got bored with the trip hop grooves to be honest.

As soon as I heard the song, "More than the ocean", with it's wonderful rythm and great beat I was hooked. Great solo album!

Absolutely freakin amazing. Dierdre's singing, the instrumentation, and the beats are absolutely perfect! Impeccable and precise drum programming. If you are the type of person who pays attention to new rhythm ideas and creative drum-programming, well there's definitely some fancy stuff going on here. Dierdre and her fellow sound programmers and musicians have put together quite an eclectic mix of many different sound ideas. Totally new, totally fresh ideas. From quirky complex stutters, glitches, and blurs, to totally slow and dreamy simplicity. And one song (Firefly) contains the typical 4/4 bass drum beat of house/club/trance...but even that song is not repetitious with such a beat because it undulates, stops, starts, changes, and turns continuously throughout.

And Dierdre's singing!...oh my goodness! Boy oh boy, she's damn fine with that voice of hers. She really does use her voice as an instrument, whether she is singing in English, French, or her special and completely unique form of nonsensical sounds, purely sung for their use of consonant and vowel rhythmical placement and emotional content within the songs. Her voice truly is a wonderful instrument throughout this whole disc.

"One" is dreamy, peaceful, booty-shakin, and truly otherworldly -- all in one. This is definitely different...non-classifiable perfection.