When the movie soundtrack record first came about in the 1950s, its function was to advertise the movie with popular music.
Today, the relationship between music and film has flip-flopped: The majority of music used in film is obscure with soundtracks featuring unknown or underground artists. This is especially the case with independent films. Features like Donnie Darko and Closer exposed the public to the songs "Mad World" by Gary Jules and Damien Rice's "The Blower's Daughter," respectively.
Frou Frou, the collaboration of two singer-songwriters, Imogen Heap and Guy Sigsworth, became a household name after the trailer for Garden State hit theaters and bombarded televisions.
Their song "Let Go" became a big hit for its lush melodies, romantic use of synthetic violins and lead singer, Heap. Although the duo achieved success from Garden State and "Let Go," both Heap and Sigsworth decided to pursue individual music careers.
The domain of the solo musician is not uncharted territory for Heap, who produced her debut solo album while still a teenager. Heap recently released another solo record, Speak for Yourself. The album features Heap's unique voice, which evokes feelings of listening to a less somber Joni Mitchell. But that's where comparisons to other artists end.
Listed under the Alternative/Punk genre, more than Heap's voice sets her apart from her peers. Her music is electronic-based with few guitars, except for "Daylight Robbery," a catchy, upbeat track. Even in this instance, the guitars sound highly synthesized, featured only in the song's beginning and chorus.
The use of mostly electronic background music helps to emphasize Heap's distinctive voice -- not that it needs any help. Her vocals are prominent in every track, and it's not so much the words that she sings as the sound of her voice that draws you into the album.
The extent of control Heap has over her vocal range is showcased in the fifth track, "Hide and Seek." The words are sung a cappella, with Heap's voice doubling as lead and back-up vocals. The song is undoubtedly the best of the album and acts as a midpoint -- all subsequent songs are less potent.
With Speak For Yourself, Heap easily toes the line of fame -- by voice, if not by name -- and contributing to the underground music tradition. The album is entrancing with vocals placed at the fore and lyrics a far second. One verse from "Have you Got it in You?" states, "It takes a lot to be always in form/It takes a lot." If it does indeed take a lot, we have to wonder how much Heap gave to write, produce and sing an album as vocally and lyrically exceptional as Speak for Yourself.
Read More
The best albums of 2014
By Noah Zeidman | December 4, 2014Across genres, it has been a pretty great year in music.
Top 10 movies of 2014
December 4, 2014This has been an excellent year for film, offering everything from gripping blockbusters to innovative personal films.
Iggy Azalea is “Reclassified”
December 4, 2014It has become common practice among music artists to repackage their albums in an effort to simultaneously boost single sales and dish out new content by slightly renaming the album or slapping “Deluxe” onto the title.
