Dana Mase
Thread of Blue
(Lightyear/Water)
First Appeared in The Music Box, June 2004, Volume 11, #6
Written by John Metzger
Laura Nyro might not have had the largest of followings, but she continues to
have some of the most loyal and fanatical supporters of any artist. Perhaps that
is what has drawn countless other singers to try their hand at her unique blend
of jazz, soul, and pop, though only Tori Amos truly has been able to cultivate a
similar entourage on any sort of long-term basis. For what it’s worth, on her
fourth outing Thread of Blue, Dana Mase —
who appears to have adopted the single-word moniker Dana —
tries her hand at updating Nyro’s sound by weaving in heavily processed drum and
bass grooves, and for a moment it works. The title track is an ambient piece
with a burbling underbelly that is reminiscent of Peter Gabriel’s recent effort Up; Tear Streaks is full of grand, sweeping gestures; and the
sultry Passion is a heady swirl of sounds. On the rest of the album,
however, Dana loses her way. There are bits
of Sinéad O’Connor, Joni Mitchell, and more Tori Amos-meets-Laura Nyro musings scattered about its seven other songs, but it
all feels innocuously vapid. Only on the concluding Touch and Go does she
reconnect with Nyro’s spirit, but alas, it’s too little, too late.
Thread of Blue is available from Barnes & Noble.
To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2004 The Music Box