Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

Sarah McLachlan

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 15, 1994)
• Original Release Date: February 15, 1994
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000002VN7
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (347 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,841 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Pop > Adult Contemporary > Contemporary

Track Listings

1. Possession

2. Wait

3. Plenty

4. Good Enough

5. Mary

6. Elsewhere

7. Circle

8. Ice

9. Hold On

10. Ice Cream

11. Fear

12. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Pre-Lilith Fair, McLachlan had critical acclaim and a cult following but was otherwise just another hard-working female singer/songwriter--one who wasn't blasting down doors with overt sexuality or popping along in front of a male Svengali. Similar in their emotional urgency to her more recent work but delightfully less polished, these folk-rock songs are surprising gems. If not for McLachlan's poignant vocals, lyrics like "Your love is better than ice cream" (on "Ice Cream") would sound childishly absurd (especially alongside deeper material like "Hold On"), but here they're given just as much respect as the weightier issues she explores. A great album to accompany your moments of introspection. --Rebecca Wallwork

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

123 of 127 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She'll Take Your Breath Away, July 9, 2004

By	Busy Body (London, England) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

Every few months or so, I come across an artist or band that I previously would not have taken much interest in because their music genre didn't fit what I see as my preference. Usually, the artist blows me away and becomes an obsession of which a race swiftly brews where I must buy nearly every album they've released. Examples from the past few years are Alanis Morissette, Bjork, Sheryl Crow and Lauryn Hill. And then there's Sarah McLachlan, my latest discovery. Being an avid Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan, I always knew who Sarah was, but couldn't really put a face to the voice. I'd heard her songs, but never thought about exploring her music. For some unknown reason, I went ahead and bought two of her albums on the same day. These were "Solace" and "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy." The former has received few spins on my CD player, but only because the latter has been hogging all the time...

Let me just say that once I heard this album, I was completely sold. Sarah's angelic vocals warmed me from the inside and enveloped me in a trance, and in that moment I knew I had to own her entire back catalogue. Released in 1994, Fumbling Towards Ecstasy was the third studio album from Sarah after her debut "Touch" and the sophomore set Solace. Sarah was still a fairly unknown with the release of this third album, but since its 1994 release it has gone on to become a masterpiece of the decade and touched millions with its beautiful lyrics, gorgeous vocals and soothing harmonies.

The album opens with the beautiful and sly "Possession." This song is trademark McLachlan and still one of her most popular songs. The song is a real life encounter that Sarah experienced of a stalker who constantly sent her letters. The song is unique because she sings the song through his eyes which must take courage and strength, along with a stunning voice that makes you believe everything she is singing. When she states "I'll take your breath away," you better be ready because she means it! "Wait" is a gorgeous mid-tempo song with gentle percussion and some brilliant vocals from Sarah. Her vivid lyrics paint awesome images in your mind and you can't help but love every second. "Plenty" is perhaps my favourite song on the album - it definitely has the best introduction. That sound of a door slamming after the 16th second sets the mood and the percussion coming in is eerie and masterful. When she sings finally after one minute, it's a complete revelation and the chorus is just majestic.

"Good Enough" is the first real ballad of the album. With its sombre opening and gentle beat, the song has a gorgeous composition and Sarah's voice fills the set with passion and emotion. "Mary" is a bar down from the previous four songs, but is great nevertheless. The song opens like a flickering candle and sets the soothing tone for the rest of the song. Sarah's airy vocals rise and fall all over the percussion creating a scenic and calm scene. "Elsewhere" took a while to grow on me, but once it did I was in love as with the rest of these great songs. The song takes a while to get going, but the chorus is amazing where Sarah cries, "I believe!" after around 90 seconds. "Circle" is the most up-tempo song on the album and start off with a cute laugh by Sarah. The song has a great beat and some amazing lyrics. The chorus makes this song a kind of anthem, because you can sing along to "What kind of love is this that keeps me hanging on?!"

"Ice" brings the upbeat mood down a peg or two, as Sarah sings with an icy and frigid tone in her voice. The song's title presents a chilly and Arctic feeling of loneliness and longing. The song is rather depressing, but Sarah handles the song so well by wrapping her voice around the lyrics in the most amazing way. "Hold On" is definitely one of the best songs on the album and is a fantastic song about true love and loss. Sarah has lost her man, and the section where she sings, "Oh God the man I love is leaving! Won't you take him when he comes to your door? Am I in Heaven here or am I in Hell?!" is mind-blowing! That voice. It's just stunningly professional and overpowering! "Ice Cream" is what fans see as probably the worst song on the album, even though it's still good. I have to agree - the lyrics are a tad childish, but once again, Sarah's voice save it from becoming cringe worthy.

"Fear" is another brilliant masterpiece from this album. The cello and keyboards set the atmosphere and the song peaks when Sarah sings, "There's nothing I'd like better than to fall!" She thrusts the song higher with her vocals, as they climax and gently fall down as the percussion sets in. It's superb, really, you won't have ever heard anything like it. The album closes with the brilliant album title-track "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy." The song is heavily emotional and a great album closer with more of the same that we've heard all the way through the album. If you can get the Import version of this album then I'd highly reccommend it because it contains the bonus track "Blue," which is a cover of the Joni Mitchell classic. Joni's version is still the more superior, but Sarah does a fine job of recreating the raw intensity. Very impressive.

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

I had initially wanted to review Touch first, then Solace and then Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - I had wanted to review all her albums in order. However, since I don't own Touch yet, I got down to business and got this review written for this album. It's my 300th review, so I though Why not?! And also, the music on this album is just too damn good to wait to express myself on! I adore Sarah and this masterpiece, so it's hard to contain the love I feel for it. Anyone interested in exploring Sarah's music should do so instantly, starting with this.

63 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure, undistilled ecstasy..., February 23, 2000

By	"tygerlili" (California, USA) - See all my reviews

I don't quite possess the vocabulary to describe this CD; I'm not sure there's words in the English language to describe the pure emotion concealed in the poetry of the beautiful lyrics and the melody of Sarah's incredible voice. I can, however, say that this is one of the most stunning CDs I have ever heard... and I will say exactly that, because it's true. Sarah has a positive genius for capturing the essense of what makes us human in her songs, lending them a depth that sets them apart from many shallow "contemporary" artists of the day. Her words have impact. You can't help being drawn in by their honesty and sheer poetic grace.

It's impossible to choose favorites on a disk like this, because all of the songs are unique and beautiful in their own way. Still, certain songs are so hauntingly lovely that they deserve a special mention: "Hold On", "Elsewhere", "Ice", "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy", "Fear", and the hidden track, a piano version of "Possession", stick out in my mind as masterpieces by this wonderful artist. The last two tracks I mentioned in particular have an elusive quality of lucid, haunting beauty that strikes me to the core each time I hear them. They are truly stirring in a way that can only be experienced, not described.

This is no ordinary album, and it's one that you simply can't afford to miss. If you don't own it, what the heck are you waiting for! Get it right away... no CD collection should overlook this priceless gem.

46 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to describe its so good, November 11, 2000

By	E. Rees (Ireland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's difficult not to use superlatives when describing Sarah McLachlan's music but for this album I have no guilt whatsoever at resorting to them. It is quite simply one of the finest albums ever recorded and listening to it for the first time became a milestone in my life.

The first of Sarah's songs I heard was "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" on the soundtrack to an episode of Due South (thank you Paul Haggis!) and I was immediately smitten, resolving to buy the CD immediately. That's not so easy when you can't elicit the title from the lyrics but thanks to repeats and VCRs I was finally able to put a name to the voice. This album, depending on how you look at it, is the best or the worst way to be introduced to her music. Best in that it's a tour-de-force of songwriting, performance and passion on her part and worst in that it does rather spoil you for her other albums, none of which come close to the stunning impact of this one IMO.

"Possession" and the titular song are, unquestionably, the finest songs on the album and they vie for the top spot in my affections. "Wait", "Good Enough", "Hold On" and "Ice Cream" are almost as good. "Fear" is the most individual track with a haunting air and moving lyrics and serves as a wonderful lead-in to "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy". For me this is Sarah's most consistent and wonderful album and will always remain a favourite companion.

If you're lucky enough to get the non-US version of the CD it should include a bonus track (in addition to the hidden version of "Possession" tacked on at the end of track 12), a cover of Joni Mitchell's "Blue". It's strange to hear Sarah's voice singing Joni's words but it works and I've grown to love it almost as much as Sarah's own songs.