Divasonic- Changing Wind

ARTIST: Divasonic
ALBUM: Changing Wind
LABEL: Digital Bliss Productions
REVIEWER: Matthew J.
DATE: 3-22-08

Created by classically-trained composer and singer Lynda Arnold along and augmented by a revolving array of guest musicians ranging from rappers to flautists, Divasonic's music incorporates a little of everything, from synthpop to trip-hop to jazz to folk. In many ways, her latest album has a very modern feel to it, with laid back electronic textures, mellifluous vocals and brassy flourishes that practically guarantee airplay on NPR. Instrumental "Summertime" blends jazzy flutes and saxophones over subdued tribal electronics, "Processing Love" adds warm vocals to a mellow house groove, and "Seed" incorporates both laid-back rapping and Arnold's bittersweet soprano, all set to a sensual electronic bass line. Despite the vibe of contemporary hipness, though, Arnold's approach owes more to to the avant-garde pop divas of the '70s and '80s than the trip-hop and synthpop darlings of today. Her combination of jazz, folk and electronics is particularly reminiscent of Laurie Anderson, as evidenced by the wordless vocal exhalations looped as a percussive element on "Girationz" and by "Mammal Magnets," which uses piano and string textures as well as upbeat electronics as the foundation for a song that's deeply weird but somehow sexy. While Arnold's eclectic approach to electronic music makes Divasonic tough to compare to other artists, this album's overall mood of cool, laid-back sensuality is sure to appeal to fans of Portishead, Lovespirals, and Morcheeba.

Visit Lynda Arnold at www.divasonic.com.