CD Review
Artist: Lili Haydn
Title: Place Between Places
Label: Nettwerk
Released: April 1st 2008

4 ½ Stars

Reviewed By: Kindah Mardam Bey

Haydn ‘found' the violin at age eight, so did I. Then our paths parted ways as Lili's talent towards the violin flourished and my Mum begged me after six months to give up the screeching nightly ‘practice sessions.' Clearly one of us has a talent for the violin, and the other is merely meant to enjoy it from a distance (a great distance). Lili Haydn, known as the ‘Jimi Hendrix of the violin' manages to make one of the most complex and diverse string instruments into a tidal wave of sound and incomparable beauty on her fourth studio album Place Between Places.

You may not realize it, but you have probably heard Haydn's violinist touch added to the sound of such diverse and musical heavy weights as Josh Groban, Tom Petty, Hootie & The Blowfish, Brandy, No Doubt and Porno for Pyros, to name a few. It was Josh Groban's ‘Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring' on his debut album that I first heard the shear excellence of Haydn's skill on the violin.

With apt skill of her own, it is delightful to hear Haydn's own vocals paired with her talent on the violin. Listening to Place Between Places, you get a real sense of Haydn's personality, as she has both an intense respect for classical sound, but an equal level of respect for rock ‘n roll. Haydn balances the two extremes of music, which creates both an urgent and yet serene sound on the album. Haydn's husky voice is the anchor to this album's unique sound. At times, Haydn's voice reminds me of Pia, especially paired with her more ethereal sounding songs like ‘Powers Of Five.'

Haydn has been making music like this for awhile, but it has recently become trendy to tear a strip off a classical piece of music with a rock ‘n roll spin. With the Verve's one hit ‘Bittersweet Symphony,' David Usher's Flower Song intro to ‘Black Black Heart' and artists like William Joseph and Lucia Micarelli, perhaps Haydn's music can be brought to a broader audience.

Most of Haydn's songs sound like classical fairytales in violin and voice, but they always seem to have a strong outside influence being absorbed into each song; whether it be a piano or guitar undercurrent on songs like ‘Children Of Babylon' are almost magical in quality. From the album title track ‘Place Between Places' a sultry, hypnotic, non-linear, song draws the listener into Haydn's world. ‘I Give Up' is a remembrance of Haydn's classical roots, but amplified into a beautifully rock infused ballad. I could listen to ‘The Reverie' over and over again as it sounds like an oriental themed lullaby, whereas ‘The Last Serenade' has a haunting echo to this violin piece that is influenced by an Eastern European sound of melancholy romance.

Each track on Haydn's Place Between Places is a delicious story to roll out and wind back up, like a ball of brightly coloured yarn. Haydn is a storyteller, whether it be through her voice or her violin, and she is willing to share her stories in a Place Between Places.

1. Memory One
2. Strawberry Street
3. Can't Give Everything
4. Saddest Sunset
5. Place Between Places
6. I Give Up
7. Satellites
8. The Reverie
9. Children Of Babylon
10. Unfolding Grace
11. The Last Serenade
12. Powers Of Five
13. Anthem