Sweetest Illusion

Basia | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 3, 1994)
• Original Release Date: May 3, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002A4J
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MiniDisc  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,213 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > World Music > Europe > Eastern Europe > Poland

Editorial Reviews

Wonderful collection of upbeat, jazz fusion, latin, smooth sound.. a classic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INFECTIOUS, INTELLIGENT POP-JAZZ, December 9, 2003

By 

Larry L. Looney (Austin, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sweetest Illusion (Audio CD)

There aren't many artists who can pull off a combination like this to suit me. I have little patience for overtly commercial music - I generally find it vapid and boring. However, Basia and her musical/life partner Danny White came up with a complete winner when they recorded this disc - there were flashes of brilliance on all of her previous recordings, but this one hits the mark dead center. The key here, I think, is the combined effects of Basia's incredible voice, the tunes (mostly by Basia and White) and the lyrics (mostly by Basia). A couple of the tunes have lyrics written by Peter Ross - and while these are nice, the ones that work the best (at least for this reviewer) are the ones she wrote herself. They allow her personality and outlook to come through in the songs, and this sets them above the output of most artists that are this pop-oriented.

Basia's lyrics address the depths and heights of life and love - the joy and pain, the longings, the successes and failures, the very humanity. Her view of life is refreshingly full of wide-eyed, joyful surprise at all that life has to offer - the gratitude she feels for the life she has been gifted is expressed poignantly again and again in these songs. The words co-exist comfortably with the lush, elegant, jazz-based arrangements (by Danny White). His charts are absolutely perfect (wisely keeping Basia's vocals at the center of every track), the playing by all concerned is stellar, and the recording is crystalline - all adding up to an extremely enjoyable experience for the listener.

It's hard to miss the pure joy she feels in making this music - listen to her playful mimicry of the horns, her interaction with them, on the opening track `Drunk on love'. The incredible ability she displays in doing this so well is almost totally eclipsed by the fun she's having - and that's a wonderful thing for a listener to be able to share with an artist.

The traditional Polish accordion piece (`Rachel's wedding') that bridges `She deserves it' with the following track, `An olive tree', is a nice touch - the first song deals with a woman's fulfillment in life and love astonishing her with its power; the latter song centers around an image of the singer following the advice of a friend, to embrace an olive tree in the hope of it bringing her luck in life and love. `Perfect mother' and `The prayer of a happy housewife' celebrate the gentle wonders that can fill and enrich our lives before we recognize them - it's beautiful to hear them lauded so sincerely, without once giving the impression that the woman who sings them is anything but strong.

The tunes that work the least for me on this album are the ones, as I mentioned, with lyrics by Peter Ross - they just don't seem to me to convey as much of the singer's emotions and thoughts. They're certainly not what you would call `clunkers' - this is overall, I think, Basia's finest work. She hasn't made any new studio recordings since 1994 (with the exception of a tune here and there) - she's long over-due.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another elegant, intoxicating work by Basia, May 30, 2003

By 

David Kaminsky (Edmonton, Alberta Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sweetest Illusion (Audio CD)

Basia and Sade both create gorgeous works seemingly irrespective of public taste, what's currently "hot" and "hip," and yet each of their CDs sound fresh and wonderful for many years after its initial release. You never get tired of listening to Basia or Sade, and it isn't just because they each put out new works so infrequently. The first time I heard "The Sweetest Illusion," I was, I'll admit, a little disappointed that the Brasilian influences were a bit more subtle than on previous works. I very quickly realized the power and depth of this album, however, and how much it demonstrates Basia's growth as a singer and songwriter. The songs are a bit longer and less pop-oriented than on the first two CDs. "Drunk on Love" and "Third Time Lucky" are witty and sophisticated, with irresistable melodies. She sings "third time lucky, and you've arrived," and I think that's very true of the artist herself on this CD. "Third Time Lucky" is classic Basia, with delicately-entwined harmonies, exotic, samba-soaked percussion, wonderful piano work by Danny White, and even a jubilant whistling hook, and the song's ending is jazzy and wild. "Yearning" is a long, slow-paced piece about finding a home in the heart of a loved one. It's a gorgeous, unforgettable ballad. "She Deserves it" is a gentle, bossa nova-esque duet with Trey Lorenz, and is juxtaposed with the instrumental "Rachel's Wedding." The link between the two is thematic, and it is a perfect wedding present for the lucky Rachel. "Hug an Olive Tree" is lively, fun, and exuberant, similar to the song "Copernicus" from the "London Warsaw New York" CD. "The Sweetest Illusion" begins with elegant strings before launching into an explosive tempo and intriguing lyrics (by Peter Ross) overlayed with Danny White's keyboard mayhem. The sound recaptures some of the frantic magic of Basia's Matt Bianco days. "Perfect Mother" is another very quiet and gentle number, full of beautiful harmonies, and obviously deeply personal. Next is the very upbeat "More Fire than Flame," which is heated up with lots of brass touches and a very urgent chorus. "Simple Pleasures" is yet one more lush, gentle bossa nova-like piece, evoking "Brave New Hope" from the previous CD. "My Cruel Ways" is, in my opinion, the strongest song on the CD. The lyrics are wise and personal, the strings rich and emotional, and the song brings the haunting bass lines from "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" to mind in places. The final track, "The Prayer of a Happy Housewife," is a simple, heartfelt message of gratitude for a wonderful life. I'm not completely bowled-over by this song, but the soaring, gospel-flavoured choruses anticipate the song "Clear Horizon" from her later greatest hits CD. Another remarkable work by an amazing artist.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basia We Miss You! Please make more music!, March 6, 2003

By 

J. Rausch "miatajeff" (Warwick, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sweetest Illusion (Audio CD)

For the listener who is not yet familiar with Basia, let me try to put into words the unique experience. Basia is a Polish singer heavily focused on latin-flavored beats. Her beginnings with the invaluable music of Matt Bianco led to the release of only 4 studio albums, this being the latest. To the uninitiated this is likely the weakest of the four but still an outstanding production that warrants its place in any cd collection. The joy and playfulness of Baasia's music is rarely matched (perhaps best matched by Matt Bianco) and merits a listen for any fan of jazz, latin, vocalist, even dance music fan.
The worst thing that can be said about this cd is that it is the last one (studio album) she has released in nearly 10 years. Scoop it up today and join the movement to bring Basia back to the studio!