Dark
Star Audio
Kalinkaland
Musik.Terrorverlag
Zabadak
Singapore
Straits Times
Sound
on Sound
Elektrofest Live Review
By Rob Dyer
Long-standing favourites Greenhaus were on
next and it had been some time since I'd caught up with them.
This was immediately noticeable as they took to the stage
- I only recognised one of the original line up - core songwriter
Steve Bellamy. He was joined on stage by a new drummer and
female keyboard player. Female vocalist Phoenix J has transformed
herself from when I first saw her live at Elektrofest 2004.
She has developed a captivating stage persona and her vocals
are easily the best the band has ever had. Bellamy was almost
hidden - tucked away behind a pile of equipment - only occasionally
emerging when switching to backing guitar. The older songs
are more refined and accomplished and the newer material is
accessible in a way that only Greenhaus seem to be able to
pull off without compromising their integrity. The finished
article remains a compelling mixture of atmospheric instrumentals,
cracking melodies, sweeping emotions and a wonderful voice.
I'm keen to hear the new album You're Not Alone - due imminently.
YOU'RE NOT ALONE REVIEW
By Harald Lowy
Love, darkness, parting, weightlessness again and again,
cosmic sound walls. You're not alone is the phenomenal German
debut, of the best British Electro Band of the year! Over
one hour long, the talented Londoners unpack everything,
burning their soul: a journey through space and time, between
understatement and global feeling. Greenhaus drafts musical
sketches with ethereal guitars and spacial melodies and
rises weightless into the heavens; four minutes of full
simple beauty.
It begins with the title song You're not alone whose playful
beginning hardly prepares you for this energetic crazy striptease,
you unexpectedly are launched into. Before our eyes, a bewitching
flowing Electropop firecracker unfolds, heaving the melancholy
young spigots onto a level with their big national colleagues.
And then the whole singer Phoenix J emerges like a sacred
grail and spreads an eerily imposing attraction, like we
have never heard before. Songs follow like Home ("The
way is clear now as we dust away the cobwebs") or Til
The Fat Lady Sings (with the great insight:"....that
life may not be a bowl of cherries") and the exciting
hymn Higher Ground, a complete show that implies more of
achievements than just simple song property.
You're not alone is excellently staged Electro-Britpop.
A miracle bag, crammed full, and at the end, if one has
landed again, one asks oneself, what have I caught there?
No question: Greenhaus has supported their ambitions.
Top
GREENHAUS LIVE REVIEW
(DE/VISION TOUR)
By Michael
East Westfalian Germans are notorious for
their stubbornness and reservedness, a reputation that may
stem from the fact that they don't eat stuff they don't know.
Right from the start of the concert, I was very impressed
with the stage presence of lady singer PJ, only 160 cm tall.
GREENHAUS, founded as a techno/instrumental project in 1998,
had been joined by this petite, charismatic singer of Asian
origin about 18 months ago. She assured me that she has never
had any classical vocal training, but I didn't believe it
- or I didn't want to believe it...Susanna, the lady on keyboards,
was a new band member. It was obvious that she knows her classical
piano.
A perfect symbiosis of Massive Attack, The Cure and VNV Nation,GREENHAUS
impressed song by song. Not only could one tell that they
were having a great time playing their music, but also that
they knew exactly what they were doing. After some initial
scepticism amongst the 300 audience members, the ice was quickly
broken, and PJ, Susanna and their band mates clearly enjoyed
the lively atmosphere. Their very trancey waves of sound in
conjunction with PJ's powerful and clear voice took the listener
on a voyage on an ocean of melodies.
It was almost therapeutic, making forget the day's stress
in view of the highly competent performances on vocals, guitars,
bass, synths and e-drums.
Top
Junkk CD Review
By Ron Cooper
'It's been a long wait, but this is a great
follow up to 1997's 'Binary Star' (when she was known as simply
Joan Martin).
Phoenix J has a sweet voice coupled to that cute "Singaporean"
accent (an original charm), and via a mixture of many influences
(from "Nu R&B" of J.Lo & Beyonce to "Nu
Disco" of Kylie), takes us on an attractive journey.
Two numbers 'Play My Song', & the gentle 'Dancing With
Secrets' are reminiscent of the 'Binary Star' style, but the
rest sees Phoenix moving into fresh pastures.
Stand out tracks are 'Junkk' carefully interwoven with some
interesting eastern sounds, 'Why Do I Care So Much' heavenly
& an excellent vocal "a slower pace...turn to think...what's
important", 'Duty & Desire' majestic & great
ideas, 'Echo Of You' enjoyable far Eastern sounds "can
you hear the way it echoes down through me", 'Love Science
101' very much "pop" reminding of Mel C (there are
two versions), 'Cry' excellent, and 'No People' a soulful
choir fuelled affair - very beautiful as Phoenix pulls all
the stops out.
A worthy successor, with more maturity, more emotion, stronger
vocals & some cutting edge production touches. '
8½ - Ron Cooper
Top
Singapore
Straits Times, Life! |
By Paul Zach, Zach's Trax
"J's Album takes the blend of Western
pop, R&B dance and Asian influences she explored on Binary
Star to another level. Lovers, of alternative music, dance
and even rock will find plenty of tasty riffs and touches.
Why Do Care So Much? has a killer chorus
that is ready made for radio. Love Science 101, the JP Folks
award winner, has "hit" written all over it and
comes with a de-regueur chill edit. But three tracks
at the album's core make it stand out high above today's rapidly
growing music waste land.
Duty & Desire has one of the lushest
soundscapes heard on record this year. Tin whislte flutes
float through the mix (J plays those, too), turning it into
a moving listening experience. Asian touchs, including a striking
gong sample, light up Shine Down. And J's Middle-Eastern vocal
twists and turns on Blissfully Blasted will make you just
that..."
Top
Phoenix J
By Paul White
Read article here.
Top
