Whisper House

by Duncan Sheik

Overview

A dalliance with Broadway reinvigorated Duncan Sheik, winning him a Tony and opening up the new artistic avenues he pursues on Whisper House, his first album since the award-winning production of Spring Awakening and his 2006 LP, White Limousine. Whisper House falls somewhere between those two extremes, being a dramatic piece that plays a lot like a classic '70s singer/songwriter album, especially when the opener, "It's Better to Be Dead," unfolds quietly yet dramatically in the tradition of early Elton John. Whisper House rarely gets this grand, either in its production or its intent. It's an intimate affair, with the many duets with singer/songwriter Holly Brook playing like overheard conversations, but as carefully considered as the narrative is, what makes Whisper House work is that it functions as a pop album. It can be broken up into small, digestible pieces -- the ten tunes are either delicate folk numbers or surprisingly sprightly pop tunes -- and it can be appreciated as a concise collection of catchy straightforward songs that build upon each other. Indeed, among Sheik's albums this ranks among the best, showcasing his subtle skills and sense of quiet adventure in ways his sometimes fussy earlier records never did. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	01/27/2009
Label:	Victor Records / Rca Victor
UPC:	0886974042624
Rank:	130739

Tracks

1. It's Better to Be Dead
2. We're Here to Tell You
3. And Now We Sing
4. The Tale of Solomon Snell
5. Earthbound Starlight
6. Play Your Part
7. You've Really Gone and Done It Now
8. How It Feels
9. I Don't Believe in You
10. Take a Bow

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Duncan Sheik   Primary Artist,Bass,Guitar,Vocals,Keyboards
Richard Watkins   French Horn
Kevin Garcia   Drums,Percussion
Simon Hale   Conductor
Gerry Leonard   Featured Artist,Guitar
Holly Brook   Vocals,Featured Artist,Vocals (Background)
John Barclay   Trumpet,Piccolo Trumpet
Nick Bucknall   Clarinet,Clarinet (Bass),Soprano Chalumeau

Technical Credits

Roxanne Slimak   Creative Director
Mike Hornett   Music Preparation
Michael Tudor   Mixing,Engineer
Klaus Lyngeled   Illustrations
Simon Hale   Brass Arrangement,Wind Arrangements,Woodwind Arrangement
Duncan Sheik   Composer,Producer,Audio Production
Gerry Leonard   Performer
Greg Calbi   Mastering
Holly Brook   Performer
Niall Acott   String Arrangements
Mat Bartram   Assistant Engineer