DELERIUM – Chimera

You can call me conservative but not a hard-liner. Just to be acquainted even better with my profile: “Karma” is the best pop album ever made. Anyone who disagrees, I’m waiting on Champs Élysées at dawn with sword in my hand. <smile>

Why I had to introduce myself? Simply so you could see where this review is coming from. Undoubtedly, you will read various reviews of this album, originating from various perspectives and clans. Here is mine. So, you may or may not disagree with my view of “Chimera”. Choice is yours.

It is not “Karma” that is for sure. Some sort of pale look-alike, yes. Recipe was immensely well received, catapulting (until that time obscure) Delerium to the top of everyday charts. Remember ‘Silence’ and it’s retarded +3 speed dance remix by Airscape? How many copies sold, a million? Then it all began. You know: commerce, planning, high stakes and investments.
This is not to discredit the album, as said earlier it IS the best pop album ever. So, standard bar is high. Very high. Too high.

The only thing that bothers me is attempt to cash in on that matrix: electronic soundscapes and sweet vocals filled with sensuality. It worked once because of “Karma’s” purity, inspiration and geniality of Ms. Thirsk and Ms.Henderson, to name a couple of genuine divas. “Chimera” lacks that spontaneity and true feeling that gives depth and that ‘something’ called magic.
‘Magic’ itself is one before last track on this album. Julee Cruise is a voice. Style is ‘ballroom’ song. Good and appropriate for David Lynch’s soundtracks – here it is absolutely lost. In place and time. Not that track only, which is unfortunate. ‘Touched’ is not even created by Leeb / Fulber! Music, lyrics, arrangement are below every par!
Call me old-fashioned, but the best tracks are their signature instrumentals ‘Serenity’ and ‘Eternal Odyssey’. Yes, ‘After All’ is mega-hit already (and superb melody), but acoustic guitar and vocoded voice give it that saccharine taste, a substitute for genuine type of feel. I confess I was humming the theme, but I was not moved and shaken, vacuuming every sound with all of my senses as I still am when immersed in ‘Duende’ or ‘Flowers Become Screens’. Check release dates of those songs. Will ‘Orbit Of Me’ withstand the impact of time?
‘Just A Dream’ is a nice attempt, but jump quickly to ‘Returning’ (track 13) – a return of a goddess Kristy Thirsk. Passionate, burning lyrics and muffled scream in the beginning. Old sentiments invoked, I shivered. Nobody completes Leeb/Fulber’s music as this dark diva. Both in colour of voice and shade of lyrics.
THAT is what made Delerium great – duality, contrast, blend. Although I fully support Mr. Fulber’s Conjure One middle eastern influences, it ruined already weak ‘Run For It’, track that featured Leigh Nash. All that I’ve said about Kristy Thirsk does not apply to Sixpence None The Richer frontwoman. Simply use genuine vocals and lyrics (as in ‘Forever After’) and it will work.

Leeb and Fulber are masters of musical skill. Even after “Poem” and now “Chimera” I have no doubts , whatsoever. But other questions linger, will their music leave the electronic realm where they rule and move to carbonated sea of soda-pop. This album is on the boundary of Electromeda’s horizon and moving away swiftly. It would be sad to see it disappear completely.

Bonus disc? Videos are nice.