LAWS OF ILLUSION is Sarah McLachlan returning to her finest form, last seen since SURFACING, released 14 years ago. This album took 7 years and perhaps countless ups and downs in McLachlan's life to make - and the wait is every bit worthwhile. McLachlan's discography has always been timeless, such that SURFACING could have been released yesterday and LAWS OF ILLUSION in 1996 and no one would be able to tell. Such is the excellence of musical craftsmanship and brilliance of song-making partnership between McLachlan and long-time producer Pierre Marchand.

There are 12 songs (and an additional bonus track) on this latest album, 2 of which previously featured on GREATEST HITS released 2 years ago. Initially I was critical of this, blaming laziness and lack of effort. Then I became appreciative. "U Want Me 2" is one of the best McLachlan songs ever - lush instrumental, poetic lyrics, ethereal vocals all lending to heartbreaking imagery. I'm glad I have it on here as part of the collection rather than having to keep going back to the GH collection to hear it. It fits in perfectly with LAWS OF ILLUSION like the last piece of jigsaw. And 13 songs on a McLachlan studio album is always a bonus, considering SURFACING and AFTERGLOW only had 10!

LAWS OF ILLUSION is perhaps McLachlan's hardest and edgiest sounding collection - swirling electric guitars are present on most songs. But the sound never drifts too far from what all fans will claim is McLachlan's (sort of what you'd expect if Enya did rock). The album also contains some of McLachlan's happiest sounding songs in a sing-songy, chorusy way: "Illusion Of Bliss", "Loving You Is Easy", "Out Of Tune" and "Heartbreak". Even the instrumentation is fuller, more uplifting, a little bit more bouncy as if it were skipping happily along. But make no mistake, those "happy" songs never end up sounding like cotton candy having been through the hands of this queen of melancholy. McLachlan always finds a way to serve them up as mostly minor-chord songs that transition into a major-chord chorus. "Illusion Of Bliss" is a misnomer, there is no illusion about the bliss contained in this song.

I need to specially mention "Forgiveness", my newest, favourite McLachlan song. The instrumental arrangement is exquisite, the melody is trademark McLachlan. The solitary piano beginnings deceive the listener into thinking this as "Angel" #2, but when the beats drop, background cooing vocals enter and guitar envelope the song, you discover the masterpiece. I think this song inspired the classy and dreamy album cover. I also need to single out "Awakening". It is different, moody, electric-guitar-rock-loud and has a song structure that is not immediately discernible. But it is a stand-out and showcases McLachlan as a rock goddess doing Coldplay. Finally, "Rivers Of Love" and "Changes" deserve attention too, as a throwback to the SURFACING era. This is your 2010 "Do What You Have To Do" and "Full Of Grace" respectively. Check out the saw.

I have deliberately left out the most important ingredient on LAWS OF ILLUSION for last. Shimmering, magical, breath-taking, expressive, soothing and flawless: McLachlan's voice. It is what makes a McLachlan CD a McLachlan CD. It has remained the same from the day I first started listening to her. Her phrasing is unique; her slight cracks are emotion-drenched; and the oft-featured yodel-break is skilfully used throughout.

LAWS OF ILLUSION is pretty much perfect. I'll be spinning this one for however long it takes for the next McLachlan CD to drop. If she takes this long to release music as astounding as this, so be it.

Liam F.

16 June 2010

That was some Sabbatical! It has been 7 years since

, and I for one was starting to demonstrate some pretty pronounced withdrawal symptoms. But I always respect an artist who, having nothing new to add, will refrain from printing and marketing ...proof of this fact.

Sarah McLachlan's strong point has always been her mesmerizing voice and the beautiful poetry of hes songs. That is why in this album instrumental accompaniment is kept to a minimum. This is not a pop album. It deserves to do well because, although personal it is far from esoteric. Sarah sings about universal feelings of a human getting older, surviving heartaches, overcoming adversities and finding happiness once more.

If

was the voice of a young couple in love about to start off their blissful life, LAWS OF ILLUSION is the voice of the same couple reaching maturity - whether they are still together or not.

Sarah is back. With another timeless masterpiece.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

With great regret ... I rate this a 3. First off, for sure get the deluxe version with the DVD. One reviewer had problems with the audio, but mine worked flawlessly both in a standard DVD player, and in a PC. It contains an interview of Sarah in her home studio in which she discusses the background to a song and then plays a piano solo of it, six in all. The DVD hints at what a great album this might have been. To me, Sarah's greatest gift is her beautiful, aethereally pure voice. It's as good as ever (and she's looking as hot as ever!). I really prefer her without her band. Love her piano and guitar solos. A major problem with the CD is that most of the tracks are over orchestrated; Sarah's voice gets drowned out by the background.

I view a great song as poetry set to music. Lyrics are important to me. I don't play her music as background. I don't dance to it. I lie in bed and lose myself in her words. This is the woman who penned such haunting lines as "Oh into the sea of waking dreams I follow without pride; Nothing stands between us here; And I won't be denied." in her Fumbling Towards Ecstasy album and "So I ran like the wind to the water; Please don't leave me again I cried; And I threw bitter tears at the ocean; And all that came back was the tide." in Solace (one of her best; a fantastic, overlooked album). But then she hit a low with "There are times I can't decide when I can't tell up from down; You make me feel less crazy when otherwise I'd drown; But you pick me up and brush me off and tell me I'm OK; Sometimes thats just what we need to get us through the day." in Afterglow. OK, that was a happy Sarah. When songwriters become happy, their lyrics tend to get wishy-washy (even Alanis). But then Sarah hit a rough patch. I'm sorry her marriage broke up, and if bad lyrics is the price for her happiness, then that's a price I'm gladly willing to pay. :-) But her marriage did break up. And I was hoping that a positive benefit would be haunting lyrics once again. Instead, we get "Loving you is easy; Loving you is wondrous and pure; I shouted from the rooftops; 'How long must I wait 'til I see you smile?'" from her latest single release from Laws of Illusion. "Loving You is Easy" is a toe-tapping, finger-snapping, sing-songy song that people hum while washing their cars. I can see a commercial being set to it ... with the usual chorus of dancers running through the streets of NYC, snapping their fingers; with a cutaway to an ensemble tap dancing on a rooftop and shouting; fadeout to a smiley face. Up to now, her sing-along song at her concerts has been "Ice Cream", but even that has a dark edge to it if you listen carefully.

The first single released from Afterglow was "Fallen", a truly great song, one of her best. When I first heard it, my immediate reaction was "Yes! Yes! Yes! She's back, and better than ever." But none of the other tracks in the album even came close to it. Her latest single, "Loving You is Easy", is trite, and unfortunately, most of the other tracks follow suit ("the moth drawn to the flame" metaphor is so stale it's moldy). The standout in this collection is the acoustic version of "Forgiveness". Watching her interview (many close-up shots; you can feel the emotion on her face and in her eyes) and piano solo on the DVD made this set worthwhile.

I'm hoping Sarah does not follow the trajectory of Sheryl Crow. When she had her big dance pop hit "Come Soak Up the Sun", I stopped buying any more of her albums. Artists can't stay frozen in time (although a certain singer in her fifties still makes a good living from singing about her sweet sixteen party :-)). I'm not a fan waiting for "Possession, Part II, III, IV ....", the way that movie fans anxiously await sequels to their favorite movies. But I'm hoping the poignant poetry and haunting melodies will return (even a robot listening to the piano version of "Hold On" would break down in tears). As long as Sarah's aethereal voice holds out, though, I'll still buy her albums. And if she ever tops "Full of Grace" ... I will believe in God.

I would rate the content of the album 3 stars, it is not Sarah's best effort but still very enjoyable. I love "Forgiveness" and "Bring on the Wonder". The album sounds fantastic on vinyl, beautifully crisp and clear. That said, I am taking away a star due to the following issues: I would not recommend this version of the album unless you have her best-of album "Closer". The vinyl only has 10 tracks on it and is a single disc pressing; the product description incorrectly states it is 2-discs. Second, the CD version of the album has 13 tracks, it is missing "Don't Give Up On Us", "U Want Me 2", and "Love Come (Piano Version)". While the first two tracks have been released on Sarah's previous compilation album, for those of us who don't like to purchase an entire album for 2 new songs, this is a disappointment. Also, why leave out the piano version of "Love Come"? Looking at the vinyl, there was more than enough space to fit all 3 of these songs. The sticker on the packaging touts that this is a special edition; special because Sarah fans are getting ripped off. I don't mind paying extra for vinyl, but I hate receiving less. It would be nice if record companies would follow the lead of Neon Animals on their "Habits" album and give us additional songs on the vinyl edition.

Over the years Sarah's voice and lyrics normally stir my soul but on this album I just did not feel that coming through. Yes, I have hear the album several times but there is not one song really gets into your head. Sorry