Customer Reviews

Suspiria

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

One problem I see--or, rather, hear--with much music today is that so much of it sounds the same. I don't think anyone could say that about Miranda Sex Garden, and _Suspiria_ is their finest hour. I bought this album in 1993, having also bought _Madra_ and _Iris_. This CD, out of the five that MSG have recorded to date (_Fairytales of Slavery_ and _Carnival of Souls_ being the other ones not yet mentioned), has the most varied, interesting and sophisticated sound. There are gorgeous female vocals--both lead and harmonies--a violin, viola and a cello in addition to the usual bass, guitars, keys and drums. The sounds of strings were never so prevalent in MSG before as here, and haven't been since. I don't want to make you think this album is all pretty and smooth, however--it is *dynamic*, often varying from a soft, harmonic smoothness to an almost disturbing dissonance *within* the same song. I find it highly ironic that the MSG offshoot-band Mediaeval Baebes--started by MSG's Katharine Blake and specializing in acoustic and a-capella medieval and medievalesque music--are much more popular, it seems, than MSG. I still remember waiting in line seven hours to see MSG's single United States gig on the tour for "Suspiria"--and every time I hear the opening crescendo of keys and strings on this CD, I'm right back there again. Take the journey yourself--you'll be exposed to something rare--something actually *unique* in the modern music wasteland.

Miranda Sex Garden's second full length album, named "Suspiria", is one of the most exciting and challenging records I've ever heard; an extreme aural experience that mesmerises the listener while at the same time leaving you completely extenuated. An album that has the same effects as an hallucinogen. Not many records I've found being able to describe dreamlike and unreal landscapes in such a proficient way as this one. Love, grief, madness, loneliness, confusion, longing, strangeness, just name them, all these concepts are portrayed and surface through the music and the lyrics. Without a doubt a must have for fans of alternative and avant-garde music.

The band's line-up has changed since this album was released in 1993, but in those days this fascinating British group was home of three female vocalists of amazing power: Donna McKevitt, Katharine Blake and Kelly McCusker. Very few bands have had at their core so much vocal talent. These three women are responsible for the nightmarish and angelic voices that permeate the album supported by the energetic pounding of drummer Trevor Sharpe and the stinging guitar of Ben Golomstock. The use of organs, violins, keyboards and violas is astounding as well. All these elements put together constitute a weird and unique blend that has to be heard in order to be believed. Dreamy and brooding at once.

It is very difficult, not to say impossible, to describe in detail the contents of this album or just pin it down on a certain musical genre. Miranda Sex Garden's music was widely tagged as "goth rock", but only because there were no other groups remotely similar to compare them to. I think that the true roots of this band don't have much to do with pop/rock music, being their real sources of inspiration in genres such as those of free-jazz, lounge/cabaret music, experimental and modern medieval music; perhaps also in the tradition of film scores as made by artists like David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti (the cover version of "In heaven" is a good example of this). The group was also sometimes misunderstood, being booed (among other disrespectful things) at several concerts while supporting bands like Blur and Depeche Mode (it's got no sense to cast pearls before swine, that's for sure). It is also obvious that Miranda Sex Garden's music is an acquired taste and neither does please everyone nor leaves anyone indifferent. Thank God I'm one of the happy few who can enjoy it anytime.

In conclusion, "Suspiria" is a stimulating album that teases and compels and which I strongly recommend to the adventurous listener. If you own the album and haven't got into it yet, just persist. This is not background music, it demands your full attention; but it will grow on you and will eventually become one of your favourites (I, for instance, didn't get it at all the first time I heard it). It is a complex and difficult album but also really beautiful, rich and remarkable. Miranda Sex Garden managed to create something very special here. The entire record is so full of details and different layers of sound that the listening experience is never the same twice. You always discover something new each time you listen it.

I don't know if this album will go down in music history but for me there's no doubt that "Suspiria" is a historic record. A real jewel.


PLAY IT LOUD and freak out

Katherine Blake and Donna McKevitt (who is much more prominent on this album than the others) and company are in top form in this, their first (and longest) full-length release as a full-fledged band. Sounding alternately like angels and witches, the three perfect-voiced vocalists sing lovely melodies above a barrage of thundering drums, guitars and violins. 'Sunshine' reminds me of an early Lush song, with a dramatic cascading wall of guitar and violin feedback in the middle that recalls My Bloody Valentine's 'You Made Me Realise'. 'Play' starts out pretty, but then it starts getting louder and scarier. And just when you think it can't get any scarier, it does, with an avalanche of screams, breaking glass, and Psycho-like high-pitched violins. This cd is worth buying for that song alone. 'Feed' is a beautiful lullaby, like 'Blue Light' from IRIS but louder. 'In Heaven' is similar. 'Inferno' is wonderful, a very long, very intense, violin-heavy instrumental. The album closer 'My Funny Valentine' is about the most normal song on here, a well-done jazzy rendition of the lounge act favorite.

Miranda Sex Garden are simply one of the most exciting bands in the whole goth genre or simply modern music for that matter. Miranda Sex Garden came up with an interesting idea of using violins in the way a rock guitar is usually used, at least in terms of importance. Sometimes violins substitute guitars and cellos fill in for the bass. Other times they rock out on regular old guitars. Adding in lots of interesting percussion and keyboards and you has one hell of a sound. But possibly the best part about this album is the vocals. Katherine has both massive amounts of talent and character (seems most singers only have one or the other...) Then once you add in the great harmonies you have an unbeatable combination.

Suspiria is the first full-length realse by MSG as an actual "band" (they previously released the almost all acapella "Marda" and the EP "Iris") and at times it shows. Sometimes songs just never get going and others stumble at points, but still the album is rather consistent. There's about a ratio of 3-1 in favor of great music while the rest is just ok.

The album starts out with the operatic Andera Sempre. On this song Donna McKevitt does the lead vocals. Her voice is distinctly deeper than Katherine's and sounds great flying over the violins. The song also contains a great keyboard solo. The next two songs are typical Sex Garden, but are both impressive, especially "Open Eyes" as Katherine snarls "She sees him, with open eyes" in her sassy way. "Play" is easily my favorite song. Starting out quite and simple, the violins build up and soon your surrounded in a hell of wailing voices, screeching guitars, and strange whip (or breaking glass) sound effects. Defiantly one of the scariest songs ever, by anyone. I remember when me and my friend were just talking with this album playing in the background. At the end of this song I saw horror on his face and all he could say is "That slightly disturbed me."

After "Play" you need to calm down and the semi-acapella is a great follow up. With the vocals changing from angelic to downright bratty, the song is an interesting contrast. "Bring Down the Sky" contains a great melody and also has a cool instrumental part in the middle. "Inferno" is a great instrumental, as the violins and cello carry the song along as good, if not better then any electric guitar would. The song goes along til it hits it peak about seven minutes in then ends with the strange horn led "Willie Biddle and His Waltzing Maggot". The album finishes off with a cover of the jazz standard "My Funny Valentine" and is performed rather heartfelt by McKevitt once again.

Another thing worth mentioning is the drumming on this album. Its very acoustic and rather simple, but gets the job done to impressive degree. I don't like simple or standard drumming, but here it impresses the hell out of me, and works so well.

For Miranda Sex Garden it is really a tie between this and "Fairytales of Slavery" for the claims on best album. FTOS is quite different as the guitars start to take over, which isn't bad, but the album isn't quite as distinct. So I say this is the place to start. If you're new to MSG this is where to start as this defines they're sound the best, and if you're already a fan I garuntee you'll love this album.

This album was a revelation: angelic voices floating over a churning melee of base and drums, occasionally diving in to swoop casualties up to Valhalla. When played real loud, it is guaranteed to raise the hair on the back of your neck (a sign of true poetry), perturb your goldfish, and get you evicted. Truly brilliant, and violently beautiful.

I didn't see any mention below of the influence of the tradition of progressive/art rock on this band. But it is here, otherwise I know I wouldn't find it near as enjoyable as I do. I hope the baebes can bring the boys together now and again for another outing like this... If you like SUSPIRIA, other required listenings are IRIS, CARNIVAL OF SOULS, and FAIRYTALES OF SLAVERY (which I'm actually starting to think is better than SUSPIRIA). You can tell the personnel are into many kinds of music. I'm sure Katherine Blake was just bursting with ideas about this time. Her little affected snarl is the only thing sort of extraneous, beyond maybe once in a catalogue of albums. One more note: One review recommended we play this LOUD. Yep, that you almost *have* to do, the MSG records being in bad need of a remastering.

I recently got into Miranda Sex Garden. I first heard a song by MSG on the "12 Tales" compilation last year and was duly impressed by their song "Ardera Sempre". Very operatic. Awhile back I picked up the remixes for "Rush Forth My Tears" which I found to be equally compelling. I finally got around to checking out Miranda Sex Garden the other day and I bought "Suspiria" on a whim because of I love "Ardera Sempre" so much. I have to admit that it took me a few listens for the music to penetrate my subconscious. If anything, this isn't easy listening music. I'm used to the more accessible sounds of Katherine Blake's latest group Mediaeval Baebes. Sometimes the best music isn't the kind that quickly seduces the ears, and "Suspiria" is one of those cds that required a few listens before I could make some sort of assessment. Of course I simply love the opening track "Ardera Sempre". The song is absolutely breathtaking. What really unnerved my ears when I first listened to "Suspiria" was the wailing vocals and guitars on "Play" that just took me by surprise. And the same could be said about "Inferno" and "Willie Biddle and his Waltzing Maggot" minus the wailing vocals. My initial reaction to those songs were "WTH?!". Eventually the songs grew on me as I listened more to the cd. Although a far cry from Mediaeval Baebes, I found Miranda Sex Garden's music very compelling to listen to and makes me want to listen to their other cds.

This cd took a little while to get to me but was worth the wait. Surface was in great shape. Thanks

Beautiful vocals and lushly textured guitars can be found throughout the album. Very recommended for fans of Shoegazing or dream pop.

I'm surprised that this CD rates an average of 5 stars. This CD is okay, average, listenable, but certainly nothing spectacular or worthy of exceptional comment. There are a few songs I actually like but I have never bothered to try to collerate them by anything other than track number.

I think that we need to have more input from people that actually own the CD being reviewed - including commenting on what the CD is actually like rathering than trying to use as many adjectives as possible. Too many times this year I have bought a CD - this being a prime example - in the hope that it is something that I will really like.

So much for relying on comments of others and attempts at labelling music. My new approach will be to try to downlowad MP3's first. Amazon's downloads are getting better and MP3.com has a pretty good selection. However, some artists like Bel Canto, still cannot be found. Another indicator I'm checking these days is the number of used versions that are available. If the CD was truly great not too many would be available used.

Anyway - in summation - to a non MSG fan this CD is simply okay. If I knew now what I knew before would I buy it? No.