The Absence

Good one

Melody Gardot`s third album; there's a lot of influences at play on this one – most prominent is the Latin, bossa nova strain which pervades much of the music; I only got the standard (first) release of the disc, so I'm missing any bonus tracks - notably "La Vie en rose" – but one can't have everything.It's a quirky album, but one that quickly grows on one; Gardot is a very fine and creative composer/word-smith, but it is her personal and distinctive delivery one notices most - always seductively intimate and stylish.And since no-one else has noted it, I'd just like to praise the excellent arrangements/orchestrations by Ladd McIntosh which so subtly provide the settings for Ms. Gardot`s vocals.The hidden track "Chegue Journeyman" at the end of "Iemanja" the last (official) track on the disc clearly caught at least one reviewer out. The CD has a total running time of 57.51 - though the gap before the hidden track is obviously about 15 minutes of “dead air” - the only thing to spoil an otherwise very enjoyable album – I don't know why artist still do this, it's more a nuisance than a novelty now.

Ok, so first off, big fan. Have all discs including multiple editions (usually a big no no for me)and the early EP. Also rate a Melody Concert as probably best I attended in last 10 years. Now to this disc/set. Music overall - for me the weakest of the 3 main albums, but still way ahead of most of the pack out there. Production - irritated by the clicks on the beautiful track 3. Web traffic has established via Melody they are finger nail clicks so not a fault. Fair enough but still irritate. Then there is the last hidden track...after 11 minute wait it's a complete non event. So far though I would still go 4 stars but....DVD - Feel somewhat swindled. First 2 tracks are nice remixes but there is no visual content. La Vie En Rose kicks in which is not on album so bound to be a visual surely, er...no and worse still it cuts off before the track ends .NOTE TO DELUXE HOLDERS, DOES YOURS DO THE SAME? MINE STOPS AT ABOUT 4 MINS WHEREAS AMAZON US STATES IT'S 5.16 LONG.IS MINE FAULTY? Last 2 parts of DVD are about making of La vie and some missives from Melody on where the album sprung from overall. Ok content here but by this stage I felt cheated. So as an overall package 3 stars just about does it.

My Favourite all round so far from Melody, I was initially rather put off by the cover when this album first came out, and decided not to buy, but after seeing her in concert in London recently ordered it STRAIGHT AWAY!!! at a bargin! As much as I enjoyed her other work I can honestly say that there is not one track on this album that does not delight my soul. I'm a great lover of the "world music" genre anyway and her inpretation of the various musicial traditions and styles of some of the countries she has travelled to of late are creative and spot on. Really enjoyed the collaboration on this with Heitor Pereira.

I was a fan of her other albums and given how good they were, thought I'd give this a go. It's excellent, different influences come in to play and the album just flows. Great production, and at this price a bargain. If you've not found streaming yet, or are listening on the better end of the equipment spectrum and getting fantastic sound from cd, then this is well worth a "click"

I'm a bit late 'discovering' Melody Gardot, but so glad I have. Lovely laid back songs on this CD, and not one filler - except, perhaps 'Track' 11 Iamanja which is definitely a filler! 18 minutes long, of which 15 minutes is silence. Bizarre - or maybe I've missed the point.... At least it's the last track, so you can stop playing after Track 10. Quality CD , nevertheless.