Visions single handedly stopped me topping myself after hearing Tulisa had hit the top spot last week with her awful debut single,We Are Young. Despite having never heard of Grimes before, Visions is actually the 24 year old Canadians third album, so it seems like I'm late to the party.
Grimes is that special kind of Diva, one whose creativity can almost literally be felt oozing out of the speakers. It was just what I needed to wash away the apathy and "woe-is-me" feelings I was starting to get from the overexposure of certain Divas and trends in current popular music.
It is almost unbelievable to me that this was not only recorded in 3 weeks, but was entirely written and produced by the musician in her apartment.
Set over the an enchanting and whimsical electronic soundscape, Grimes has created the most enticing, electronic music I have heard in a long time. Think part 80's B-movie soundtrack (Big Trouble In Little China), part new age goodness, and you pretty much have Visions in a nutshell.
Despite the electronic, futuristic sound scape, there is something classical in the make up of this album, with Nightmusic's intro being the most blatant indicator of the star's wider influences. It's also showcased in the harmonies that Grimes' airy voice weaves in Symphonia IX (my wait is u); where they are stacked and arranged like that of Gregorian chants. It's a meshing of styles that works excitingly well.
Though a vocal featherweight Grimes, uses her voice exceptionally. When its not layered to create subtly beautiful harmonies, its reaching into its box of tricks to accent and dance with the electronic make up of the song (listen out for the whistle notes in Circumambient, or the way her voice climbs in the beautifully soft Skin). These songs highlights the skill this young lady has not only as a musical producer but as a vocal arranger too.
Grimes' Visions has been a breath of fresh air to me these last two weeks, and certainly joins Lana Del Rey's Born to Die on this Devotee of Divas list of albums of 2012. Truly inspiring in so many ways.
Rating:A-
Genesis [live]:
Night music:
Space and Time:
Skin:
