Tarja
My Winter Storm

THE REVIEW

Here it is, one of the most beautiful voices in the rock field is back, with her second solo CD, and this time in great style and form.

Having set aside the well-known history with Nightwish, Tarja returns with a CD (her second) in my opinion magnificent, elegant, artistic, and fascinating, with multiple facets: from rock/metal to classical, to opera, to ethnic, with essential orchestrations and epic choirs, and with a vaguely dark atmosphere where she shows off a great soprano voice at times and angelic at others.

It starts with "ITE MISSA EST" intro which leads us to the first single "I WALK ALONE", a song built on a base from Mozart's Requiem, with an unusual and slightly "perplexed" opening but with a truly engaging chorus and musical reprise, you shouldn't stop at the first listen. "LOST NORTHERN STAR" is the first song that nods to the Nightwish style, a dark song with heavy guitars. Another intro with "SEEKING FOR THE REIGN" to bring us to the first gem of the CD "THE REIGN": sublime voice from a great soprano with a classic musical backdrop with orchestra, then tribal drums with a solo of great strings, touching. Third intro "THE ESCAPE OF DOLL" to then arrive at "MY LITTLE PHOENIX", again the Nightwish style vaguely hovers, with heavy guitars that pace and chase a splendid string session. "DIE ALIVE", the song "heir" of Nemo? Could be... nice rock rhythm, with an interlude of epic choirs, and a chorus that sticks in your head and doesn't leave you. "BOY AND THE GHOST", starts with an orchestral backdrop and piano then with a great finale with a grand orchestra and epic choirs. "SING FOR ME", another gem of the CD, a slightly sinister chant opens the song but immediately Tarja's voice makes it clear that it is a sweet and enveloping song, with a warm and not redundant orchestra, continues the song's journey to flow into great majestic and epic choirs.... "OASIS", in my opinion the diamond tip of the CD, touching and moving, strings, piano, and Middle Eastern atmospheres, it seems to come out of the "Gladiator" soundtrack or a contemporary classical music composition by Roberto Cacciapaglia. Beautiful and ethereal voice.

"POISON" remake of an Alice Cooper song, revised and corrected à la Tarja. "OUR GREAT DIVIDE", a slow melancholic piece with orchestra, bass, keyboard, drums, and voice... moving, with peaks of voice from a great soprano, it seems like a Puccini romanza in a modern key. "SUNSET", intro of "DAMNED AND DIVINE", slow dark song with orchestra and choirs, in my opinion better the second version, remix, with heavier guitars and fuller music. "CIARAN'S WELL" the most "extreme" song of the CD, excellent, would have been great on the Wishmaster CD: heavy guitars, with dark singing. Another gem, "MINOR HEAVEN", slow, with a great orchestra and vaguely Celtic, with great choirs, a song that would have suited the new Nightwish work well. "CALLING GRACE", acoustic with great pathos with Angra's guitarist displaying a slightly jazzy arpeggio, accompanied by the warm sound of a cello.

Great production, and then, put the CD in your headphones, close your eyes, and from start to finish it will seem like you're in a movie.... magical. Special mention for "I WALK ALONE IN EXTREMO REMIX" with hurdy-gurdy, a medieval rock, like something Ritchie Blackmore might compose with his Blackmore's Night... with a flavor that tastes of Brittany.

Great Tarja.... great comeback... hopefully, we'll see her in 2008 in Italy.