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THE REVIEW
8 tracks for the debut (1998) of a nineteen-year-old Sarah Slean, which showcases all the excellent credentials that will later be highlighted on the subsequent "Blue Parade" and "Night Bugs". It's a Slean who is still a bit raw, but already capable of delivering evocative melodies and moments of rare beauty, quite impressive for her age.
"Angel" features subtle electronic inserts, although its validity is excessively influenced by heavy Amos-inspired elements, just like "Me & Jerome", which despite a brilliant piano approach, lacks the vocal expressiveness that should be credited largely for her recent releases. "Weight" (one of the standout tracks from the aforementioned "Night Bugs"), here present in a primordial version, and the interesting cover of "Climbing Up The Walls" (Radiohead), are adequate, while the spiritual pieces "Pie Jesu" (an acapella rendition of Gabriel Faurè's classic), and "John XXIII" (remarkable backing vocals) do not shine, but rather feel like a forced attempt to take themselves too seriously.
A completely different story is the subdued "I Know" and the magnificent "Universe" (here given an exceptional performance): The piano remains the predominant element, the Canadian feels decidedly at ease with it, and it is precisely these two episodes, entrusted to the infallible simplicity of the voice-piano pairing, that turn out to be the best moments of an overall satisfying work.
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Summary by Bot
Sarah Slean's 1998 debut 'Universe' reveals the early promise of a talented nineteen-year-old artist. Though raw in places and influenced by established artists like Tori Amos, it contains moments of rare beauty and strong piano-driven tracks. Highlights include the title track 'Universe' and the subdued 'I Know.' Some spiritual pieces feel forced, but the overall work is satisfying and showcases Slean's future potential.Tracklist Lyrics
02 I Know (05:11)
03 Angel (03:44)
04 Me & Jerome (03:26)
05 Universe (04:14)
06 Pie Jesu (02:46)
07 [silence] (00:04)
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23 John the 23rd (04:30)
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Sarah Slean
Canadian singer-songwriter and pianist (born 1977), active since the late 1990s. Known for orchestral, piano-driven art-pop; key releases include Night Bugs (2002) and Day One (2004), following early works like Universe and Blue Parade.03 Reviews
