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.

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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