Customer Reviews

The Thing That Feels

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Hannah Fury's first full-length release is a collection of songs that could have been written by Tori Amos, if she were a touch more gothic and a little bit more restrained. This collection of songs creates an effective mood of mystery, folklore, and legend, without ever getting too dark or serious. Five of the songs are based on Gregory Maguire's excellent novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked WItch of the West. A very promising debut that makes Hannah Fury an artist to watch.

(Also check out her debut EP--Soul Poison).

This one will sneak up on you. On first listen, you'll notice that "The Thing That Feels" is a darkly beautiful album, but you'll suspect that there's much more to it than just dark beauty. If you listen a few more times, you'll gradually become aware of the vast amounts of talent, passion, intelligence and emotion contained in each song.

Although Hannah Fury possesses one of the most beautiful voices I've ever heard, there's nothing flashy here. She never shows off by belting out those stratospheric notes that I suspect she's very capable of reaching. And her piano playing sounds pretty and passionate but otherwise unremarkable, until you realize that she's actually developed a fairly unique style that suits her songs perfectly.

But piano is just the skeleton for Fury's music. The songs have been fleshed out by the layering of her angelic voice in unexpected harmonies that build and swirl around the main vocals without ever obscuring the brilliant lyrics. Production-wise, she could have easily gone overboard with these techniques, but the entire album was mixed with just the right amount of restraint.

As for Miss Fury's lyrics, they really couldn't be any more perfect. In fact, I wouldn't hesitate to put her right up there with Dylan, Cobain and Cohen. These are the type of songs from which different listeners will glean vastly different meaning, and each listener will be convinced that his or her particular interpretation is the only possible interpretation. I'm not saying that the songs are cryptic, necessarily, but that they can easily work on several different levels... if you want them to. "The Vampire Waltz" can simply be a majestically beautiful song about vampires, if that's all you want it to be, or it can be a devastating love song. Is "Not Like You" about a swamp creature or a misunderstood artist or something else entirely? It all depends on what you NEED for the song to be.

"The Thing That Feels" has slowly, methodically attached itself to my soul, and it refuses to let go.

When I heard this album, it blew me away, like in the song Away of this album. Hannah's music immediatly reminded me of early Kate Bush as far as the songwriting is concerned, Tori Amos' piano playing, and the singing style of Lisa Germano. But still, Hannah's style is her own - the way she keeps you pinned to your chair, listening to her musical stories - I've not yet experienced this with any other artist. This album includes a 5 song mini-epic inspired by the book Wicked - which is an interesting take. Her voice is simply gorgeous, especially on the songs Love Today, Away and Vampire Waltz. All those people out there who are into beautiful, unique female voices in the Tori Amos/Kate Bush/Happy Rhodes spectrum, well crafted melodies and mysterious yet strong lyrics should definately order this album (plus her other two EP's Soul Poison and Meathook...

If all you're looking for is innovative piano music, look elsewhere. It's certainly not difficult these days to find a flakey, classically trained Tori wanna-be who can satisfy such cravings. But if you're ready to discover some beautifully sung, brilliant songs (which just happen to be surrounded by piano sounds), Hannah Fury is definitely one of your best bets.

And if you're so shallow that you're unable to detect greatness unless it's right on the surface... well, then you probably DESERVE to live in Los Angeles.

This is a really good cd. Some of the songs on here are inspired by a novel by Gregory Maguire called Wicked about the witch of the west from the wizard of oz. Unlike the broadway musical, Hannah captures the dark feeling of the original story. LET IT SHOW is about how the witch says she has no soul. I CANT LET YOU IN is about her and her lover in the novel Fiyero. AND YOUR LITTLE DOG TOO and IT WAS HER HOUSE THAT KILLED NESSAROSE are about Dorothey killing her sister and how in the novel the witch found something not so genuine about Dorothy. OF LONGING AND OTHERNESS is also inspired about from the story Wicked. A great CD for goth fans as well as fans of the story Wicked.

The best review of Hannah Fury's work is one of her own lyrics. "I'll make the strychnine taste like raspberry tea". Her voice has a liquid sweetness which contrasts with the very sad mournful lyrics beautfully. Her personality and passion shines through in every song. Each song is it's own little story. The mournful anguished lyrics and sparse piano arrangements come though as genuine and not overdone. One of the best of the hundreds of albums I own. Highly reccomended.

I stumbled onto "The Thing That Feels" on another music site. The reviews sounded very interesting, so I took a chance. I really scored huge on that chance. I literally can not stop listening to this cd. Especially the last track, The Vampire Waltz. Hannah's voice is so amazing. Her music is hauntingly beautiful. Every song is great. If you haven't heard of this artist, you are seriously missing out. Hannah has two ep's out as well. Check them out, you won't be disappointed.

Anyone who hasn't heard this wonderfully haunting CD is missing out on talent at its best. But it today! Now! You won't regret it.

When I heard this album, it blew me away, like in the song Away of this album. Hannah's music immediatly reminded me of early Kate Bush as far as the songwriting is concerned, Tori Amos' piano playing, and the singing style of Lisa Germano. But still, Hannah's style is her own - the way she keeps you pinned to your chair, listening to her musical stories - I've not yet experienced this with any other artist. This album includes a 5 song mini-epic inspired by the book Wicked - which is an interesting take. Her voice is simply gorgeous, especially on the songs Love Today, Away and Vampire Waltz. All those people out there who are into beautiful, unique female voices in the Tori Amos/Kate Bush/Happy Rhodes spectrum, well crafted melodies and mysterious yet strong lyrics should definately order this album (plus her other EP's Soul Poison, I Can't Let You In, Subterfuge and Meathook...)

Though Hannah Fury has released several EPs and composed film scores, "The Thing That Feels" is her first full-length recording and it's a thing of beauty.

Richly layered piano, orchestral music along with Hannah's soft beautiful voice make this a great listen. Hannah Fury has a gift for making these songs have a gorgeous and unearthly quality. Several songs have a death theme, but they usually end hopeful, if not at least, accepting of fate. Dark and beautiful.

Her songs are sometimes inspired by popular culture, tipping her hat to films, comic book characters, books, and yes, love.

If you like exquisite, piano music ala Sarah Fimm, and death ballads (ala Nick Cave) you will love Hannah Fury.
(read full review at collectedsounds.com)