Forgive me, for I have sinned. Like Smaug in The Hobbit, I am guilty of sitting upon a true treasure, neglecting to share it with anyone else. However, I intend to rectify that, by sharing with you the debut solo album by acclaimed New York vocalist, Sylvia Tosun, Too Close To The Sun.
Sylvia Tosun first came to my attention for her role as Fate in the most recent release by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the rock/classical opera, Beethoven’s Last Night. I gave high marks to this album, with a special mention of Tosun’s role, which had caught my attention. Thus, when I was contacted and asked if I’d like to review her debut solo album, I leapt at the chance.
And now, much belatedly, here we are.
Hypnotic, dazzling, and compelling, the only flaw of this album is that it has set a standard by which Sylvia Tosun will be judged on her future releases, and it’s a very high standard indeed. It serves to show that she must have been holding back with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, for given the chance to take the lead, she not only takes it, she blasts off into orbit. With a voice like a sultry angel, smoky and enchanting, Tosun comes off as too earthy for Heaven and too airy for the mundane world. She manages to exhibit a range and scope I’ve rarely encountered in other works, and after several dozen listenings, I still haven’t gotten tired of this album.
However, believe it or not, Sylvia Tosun is not the only thing that makes this a worthwhile listening experience, although this is most definitely her work. She’s backed by a truly exceptional group of musicians, whose collective efforts turn a lovely solo attempt into a rich and vibrant musical tapestry. Kudos then must go out to her musical cohorts, consisting of Julie Flanders (spoken word), Alison Cornell (violin, viola, keyboards, backing vocals), Harold Stephan (keyboard and drum programming), Ben Butler(electric and acoustic guitars), Doug Yowell (drums and percussion), and Michael Visceglia (bass). Any one of them would be noteworthy on their own. Collectively, they work wonders.
Julie Flanders, in addition to providing the spoken word vocals, is also Tosun’s cowriter, and wrote most of the lyrics for Too Close To The Sun.
While it seems like folly to pick a personal favorite from the songs available, I had to go with the first song on the album, “Runaway.” It manages to show off the ranges of Tosun’s smoky voice, ranging from sorrowful low notes to hopeful high notes, and all the shades in between. Backed by her talented companions, with a special note going to Alison Cornell’s mastery of the violin, Tosun sets the pace for the rest of Too Close To The Sun.
“Blue Sky” is something of a change of pace: quieter, slower, more of a ballad, giving more focus to the vocals, with only a subtle musical accompaniment, it further explores themes of hope, and belief, and self-worth, and love.
The title track, “Too Close To The Sun,” is different from the first two. Breathy and slow at first, it soon grows into a profound ballad, evoking a sense of love and loss, and conjuring images of Icarus, flying too close to the sun and ultimately falling from grace into the sea. It’s a worthy anthem to relationships, the risks we all take, and the pain we feel when they don’t work out.
“All This Time” takes a different approach (for a fourth time on the same CD), with a musical introduction that’s nothing short of magical and enigmatic, and Tosun’s throaty lounge-singer voice to conjure forth more images that resist mundane description.
Next up is “Just Six Numbers,” a mysterious and compelling tune that mixes barely-breathed spoken word, a Middle-Eastern musical sound, and Tosun’s ever-changing, ever-adaptable voice, which blends in with “Sleepless Dark Water,” a beautiful, if haunting, song that defies casual definition. Finally, there’s “Nothing More Than This,” which is another one of those evocative, emotional ballads, the perfect way to end the album.
Lest you think I’m heaping unearned praise upon Too Close To The Sun, I invite you to listen for yourself. Sylvia Tosun’s official Web site provides MP3 versions of all six songs, along with the lyrics, and even some Quicktime movies to accompany several of the songs. It’s also got commentary and quotes, a regularly updated schedule of where to see her live, and a photo gallery featuring photos of Tosun, taken by photographer/journalist Frederic Lagrange, and originally displayed in a Soho art exhibit by Japanese painter Kana Otofuji. As official Web sites go, it’s certainly worth checking out.
As for Too Close To The Sun itself, I can’t recommend it highly enough. It’s one of those rare albums whose only flaw is that there just isn’t ?enough-. Six songs is like a steak without the baked potato… delicious and enjoyable, but leaving one hungry for more. Without a doubt, if I’m ever in a position to catch Sylvia Tosun live, I won’t even hesitate to take advantage of the opportunity. This is not an album to be missed. You can buy the CD directly through the Web site, if the previews available online appeal to you. As for myself, I will eagerly be awaiting Sylvia Tosun’s next release.