Stranger Than Fiction

Ultra Nate

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 24, 2001)
• Original Release Date: April 24, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Groovilicious / S.R.
• ASIN: B00005AVO5
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #109,054 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

From URB Magazine
Never did Ultra Naté sound sweeter than on her last album, 1997's Situation: Critical, her third full-length effort that yielded the globally successful house anthems "Free" and "Found a Cure." Her voice and songwriting abilities on point, they seemed to signal a new momentum in her career in breaking through as a mainstream dance act. That there is a different producer on nearly every track of her newest album (highlights come from 4 Hero, B-15 Project, Attica Blues and veteran Ultra collaborators D-Influence and Mood II Swing) makes for an ambitious project that takes Ultra Naté beyond the house arena where she's best known. But in this case, working with so many new producers for the first time comes at the price of coming off a little too disjointed, which could keep her from finding new audiences with this record.

Her vocal and lyrical talent is certainly not in question after Stranger Than Fiction, but it does not have the longevity and drive of her last album. Ultra Naté's songs have always enjoyed extended life in the clubs with the release of diverse remix singles, and perhaps that fact will help propel this album further than it might have gone on its own. But working with a smaller group of producers again would help her emerge with the more cohesive flow that she previously demonstrated, rather than what essentially sounds like a marketable remix collection.

Tamara Palmer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Twisted!!!, March 4, 2004

By	mondo (LA, CA) - See all my reviews

I must admit that Ultra Nate has not had it easy in the 11/12 years she's tried to establish herself. After the promising debut "Blue Notes in the Basement" with it's jazzy inflections and deep house underground vibes, Warner Bros. tried to mainstream her as an R&B singer which churned out the so-so "One Woman's Insanity". After the hiatus she returned with the backing of the independent Strictly Rhythm label for "Situation:Critical". An album which saw her rewrite her ambtions for "One Woman's"- skript and pull it off better. Significantly better.
Now we come to "Stranger than Fiction" which ultimately is "Sitiuation's" successor. If not for the for the writing then for the music. As an artist Ultra Nate is moving foward. What few have a hard time understanding is that Ultra is an album artist. Not a disposable air head that a few producers led to a mic while shoving lyric sheets into her hand. She's not the type to make a few good singles and then throw an album together based on the strength of those singles. She writes her own material and she writes it well.
What is also notable is Ultra's devotion to the underground that spawned her. She returns and expands by collaborating with producers that have pretty much been ahead of their time. 4Hero- who's own two albums have pushed the envelope for drum n bass. D-Influence- my personal favorite- who's been England's best kept soul/ funk outfit since the early nineties and have been with Nate since "One Woman's Insanity". Attica Blues- who's ability to flip the script on beats and hip hop should have had another song on the LP. Other contibuters include N'dea Davenport(formerly of the Brand New Heavies), Lenny Kravitz , B-15 and Mood II Swing return as well.
But alas, Strictly Rhythm folded in the middle of the promotional push leaving Ultra to get little support for the singles- the phenomonal "Desire" and the funk driven "Get it up". The remaining singles the fun house # "I Don't Understand it" and the sensual drum-n bass cut "Twisted", which was the albums center piece, never got any promotion. Leaving the album to just sit. Conceptually, the album reads like a novel on the cycles of love and romance, it's highs and it's lows. "Stranger Than Fiction" comes from an artist who's in the game to push the credibilty of electronica. Not just climb the Hot Dance club charts of disposable 4 to the floor cheese.
Now an independent artist, her forthcoming album "Grime, Silk and Thunder" which may include a remake of The Pretenders "Brass in Pocket"is approaching a release date. Who knows maybe she'll work with Kruder & Dorfmeister, Jazzanova, Masters at Work, or King Britt.The curiousity is enough to warrant anticipation.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Evolution, April 24, 2001

By	Marc200 (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

evolution

Ultra comes back strong with her second full-length CD on Strictly Rhythm. But those merely looking for a retread of "Situation Critical" will be disappointed. On STRANGER THAN FICTION, Ultra smartly aims beyond clubland without betraying her roots. Although the lead-off single DESIRE suffered the comparison to Ultra's monster hit "Free", it is stronger, musically and lyrically, than the former hit. In fact, from a strictly artistic standpoint STRANGER THAN FICTION is her most formidable set to date. Mood II Swing is on board for the retro-styled "I Don't Understand It" which will undoubtedly be another big club hit. On a few tracks, Ultra reaches back to disco's glory days for inspiration: BREAKFAST FOR TWO is a raucous party jam that is very reminiscent of Chic's best material, Ultra's breathless, doubled vocal even conjures fond memories of the Norma Jean Wright/Alfa Anderson tag team. Grace Jones is an obvious influence for the brassy, forthright GET IT UP(THE FEELING). And the way DEAR JOHN relates its tale of woe set to an irresistible, pulsating dance beat is pure Donna Summer.

Which of course is not to say that Ultra is anything other than original. From "It's Over Now" to "How Long?" to "Any Ole Love" to the new AIN'T LOOKING FOR NOTHING, no one will give you the no nonsense, lowdown on the vagaries of L-O-V-E like Miss Ultra. Her distinctive attitude and unique talent cemented her spot in the Diva pantheon right around the time of "One Woman's Insanity".

The title track here, which was co-penned by Nona Hendryx, is a sly, midtempo tune that I personally wish had been much longer (it clocks in at only 2:33, although it is reprised later). GHOST, an appropriately spooky ballad, co-written by N'Dea Davenport, deals with the pain of loneliness. The standout is TWISTED, an atmospheric, acid-jazz track that bears the stamp of its producer 4 Hero, but once Ultra pours her sultry, soulful vocal into the mix it is all hers. Given a fair shot -- and the right promotion -- TWISTED could be the one that takes Ultra into the urban mainstream, placing her alongside the Erykahs, Lauryns and Mary J.'s. Of course, the great irony of her career is that after 10-plus years of riveting, thoughtful, provocative music that meshes, bends and spans several musical genres, she is still commonly referred to as a "dance diva". Stranger than fiction, indeed. Whatever they may call her, the rest of us know that Ultra will always be in a league of her own.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPRISE! It is Great!, October 22, 2004

By	Ryan - See all my reviews

I have to really admit that I really underestimated Ultra Nate. Her first album suprised me.but this one blew me away.She is much more talented than you would at first expect and completely underrated.
This is one of those Cd's you can listen to over and over.Love is stranger than fiction,it's true and Ultra Nate tells stories in her song that works for her and gets you into the song.
I must say this is highly recommended.You will not be disappointed in this one.