"PASSION BLUE"
Style: sad acoustic pop/folk.
Release year: 2002.
Formats: CD.
Label: IMPRESSIVE MUSIC.
The music: the music of FRANKI BAAZ is very strange, it could result easy in its definition: pop, mainly acoustic music, with a slight folk touch, but what makes it so especial and different is the character of the music; a lake of sad and beautiful music over which the moon and the plaintive and deep voice of Franki is reflected. In the back cover photo of the CD you see this five people from L.A., so serious and languid, and dressed in black, and so is the music here contained, yes, it is relaxing and pop, with occasional guitar solos of something between country and blues that make the music different, but it is so bitter..., so pale... They normally follow a very concrete sketch: acoustic calm with a subtle rhythm that is resolved with a punctual and more melodic ending, although of course this can be altered to add variety to the matter; so the fifth "Let Me" is very vivid, while the next ballad "Carry On" has a light background orchestral atmosphere and the last two numbers (which are only produced by Franki, the others by Franki and Grayson Wray), that are even darker and very different from the rest, with a repetitive tendency which make them more hard for the common pop listener; "Why" is only based in keyboards atmospheres (and Franki), "It's You & I" is still more tremendous; slow distorted guitars and a kind a funereal lament of Franki, and even a electric guitar solo (sometimes it seems doom...). There are also some other influences in the music: Franki sometimes uses a kind of Indian intonation in her singing and there are some details taken from easy listening music and maybe new age (or something like that...).
For some people it could sound too much unfortunate, but that is never a problem, in SHE DIVINE music like this is always welcome.
Some other data: Franki Baaz is a veteran of the L.A. scene, "Passion Blue" is her fourth album.
GLOBAL GRADE: 8/10
Review by Héctor Noble Fernández.
"PASSION BLUE"
Estilo: triste pop/folk acústico.
Año de edición: 2002.
Formatos: CD.
Sello: IMPRESSIVE MUSIC.
La música: la música de FRANKI BAAZ es muy extraña, podría resultar fácil en su definición: pop, principalmente música acústica, con un ligero toque folk, pero lo que la hace tan especial y diferente es el carácter de la música; un lago de triste y hermosa música sobre el que se refleja la luna y la quejumbrosa y profunda voz de Franki. En la foto de contraportada del CD ves a estas cinco personas de L.A., tan serios y lánguidos, y vestidos de negro, y así es la música que aquí se contiene, sí, es relajante y pop, con ocasionales solos de guitarra de algo entre el country y el blues que hacen la música diferente, pero es tan amarga..., tan pálida... Normalmente siguen un esquema muy concreto: calma acústica con un sutil ritmo que es resuelta con un desenlace puntual y más melódico, aunque por supuesto esto puede ser alterado para añadir variedad al asunto; así el quinto "Let Me" es muy viva, mientras la siguiente balada "Carry On" tiene una ligera atmósfera orquestal de fondo y los dos últimos números (que sólo están producidos por Franki, los otros por Franki y Grayson Gray), que son incluso más oscuros y muy diferentes del resto, con una tendencia repetitiva que los hace más difíciles para el oyente de pop común; "Why" sólo está basada en atmósferas de teclados (y Franki), "It's You & I" es todavía más tremenda; lentas guitarras distorsionadas y una especie de funéreo lamento de Franki, y hasta un solo de guitarra eléctrica (a veces parece doom...). También hay algunas otras influencias en la música: Franki usa a veces una especie de entonación india en su forma de cantar y hay algunos detalles tomados de la easy listening music y quizás de la new age (o algo así...)
Para algunas personas podrían sonar demasiado desgraciados, pero eso nunca es un problema, en SHE DIVINE música como ésta siempre es bienvenida.
Algunos otros datos: Franki Baaz es una veterana de la escena de L.A., "Passion Blue" es su cuarto álbum.
PUNTUACIÓN GLOBAL: 8/10
Crítica por Héctor Noble Fernández.
LINKS/ENLACES:
www.impressivemusic.com
© 2002-2003. SHE DIVINE AND EXISTENCE LIBERTINE. All rights reserved. Todos los derechos reservados.
FRANKI BAAZ
Franki Baaz is a long time veteran of the L.A. music scene that has somehow managed to escape major media attention. She's released several albums, and
her latest, Passion Blue, is a fine listen indeed. She sings mostly love songs of a moderate tempo in a unique and haunting voice that reminds me of a cross between Grace Slick and Enya. Her backing band provides support that is
tasteful and very tight. The album is well produced, letting her voice take center stage and soar and slide through the arrangements, and also letting the band shine in some well placed solos. It's not jazz, but it skirts the edge of jazz for some exquisite tunes. Franki Baaz can be heard on NeverEndingWonder Radio.
NEVERENDINGWONDER.COM JUNE 23, 2003
A mindful insight into the soul of Franki Baaz . A blend of laid back pop and easy listening music with sultry vocals entwined . Franki does all the female vocals , lead and backing , herself . Her band consists of Mark Akita -Keyboards , James Lee - Guitars (electric & acoustic) , Michael Davila-Electric Bass , Karl K "The bass player" - Standup Bass , and Marcus Boeltz playing all the drums . Additional background vocals performed by Grayson Wray .The project is also produced by Wray & Baaz , except "It's You and I" and "Why" which are produced solely by Baaz .
The style of the album is self evident here , a laid back and mainly
acoustic set that transports you to another dimension . If what you are looking for is a CD to relax you and leave you with that kind of warm and fuzzy feeling, you may have found it right here . The album at times seems to travel i the direction od Sarah McLaughlin or even Enya .
The flair of musical styles can sometimes almost sound as if they have an East Indian flavor . While sliding so easily from one track into the next as the style and tempo rarely changes . The only exception there would be "Let Me" which is as close to an upbeat number as you will find here .
The production is tight and the sound has a style of it's own . If it's
a mellow, almost spiritual journey into the unknown you are looking for , it's here on "Passion Blue" . This CD is getting airplay on radio stations around the world .....
(4 Stars out of 6)
Thanks so much ...
Rikk Matheson
sole revuer & webmaster http://www.RikksRevues.com
Some singer/songwriters blaze their own trail, playing their own music, and if they get any help along the way, they aren't quick to acknowledge it. This is not the case with Franki Baaz. She recorded Passion Blue with a full team of five musicians – Mark Akita (keyboards), James Lee (acoustic and electric guitar), Michael Davila (electric bass), Karl K the Bass Player (upright bass), and Marcus Boeltz (drums). These musicians fit together well and do not overpower the album. It takes a good aptitude of producing to fit this much competing energy onto an album, but Baaz and Grayson Wray, who also provided backing vocals, did just that. This is an extremely polite recording. The keyboards take their turn, and then give way for some guitar action. Of course the musical style is different, but this level of courtesy is usually reserved for jazz music, although jazz features many solos, which Baaz's band does not partake in. They must be as humble as they are talented. Baaz provides her own backing vocals, which must mean she brings along another singer when she tours. She does a good job with this on “Wishful Dream.” I can't imagine how this song could be done as well live unless Baaz has a twin. Perhaps the cloning in mad scientist's labs could do the trick here. “To Steal Your Will” has Akita's excellent keyboards at its finest. “Carry On “is another fine, almost ethereal, song that focuses on Baaz' signature singing talent. Admittedly, some of these songs do start to run together, though. Is it too much of a good thing? That's one way of looking at it. It would be nice to have a little bit more variety, especially considering how many instruments her band plays. It's a kink to be worked out on her next album. (Impressive Music)
Reviewer - Joel Edelman
www.performermag.com/