I have possessed this disk for over a month now and every time I listen to it, I begin formulating how I will approach writing a review for it. I held off at first, after only five or six listenings, so I could digest the music and really let it seep into me. That's when it came to me; you don't so much listen to Black Tape for a Blue Girl as you allow it to engulf your senses.

"Remnants of a Deeper Purity" is my second foray into the music of Sam Rosenthal and his artistic muse personified, Black Tape for a Blue Girl. The experience of listening to "Remnants of a Deeper Purity" may seem like a subtle journey, but once you allow the swirling vocals and requiem like arrangements to penetrate your misconceptions of what music "should" be, you will revel in your new discovery. This is music you will most definitely not hear on the radio, except perhaps on an occasional college radio show, and to me, this is a good thing.

Musically, the approach on "Remnants" has a minimalist quality to it; no percussion and only occasional guitars. The prevalent instruments heard throughout the CD are the violin and cello, played captivatingly by Vicki Richards and Mera Roberts, respectively. Oscar Herrera and Lucian Casselman, providing us with both a male and female perspective, share the vocals on separate tracks. Oscar also plays the guitar and tambourine while Sam Rosenthal provides the lush, ambient background music played by a harmonium and various keyboards.

Let me stress that the delicate approach to music in no way takes away from the emotional intensity that is conveyed through Black Tape for a Blue Girl's work. You've heard the old adage that less is more, right? They create sounds that penetrate your soul without bombarding your senses. Each distinct note on the violin can be effortlessly discerned from those of the cello. The background effects, while generally created electronically, don't take away from the "natural" atmosphere created by the string instruments; instead they creating an opulent environment that augments the aural effect.

"Remnants of a Deeper Purity" may only have 9 tracks, but be prepared to be engulfed in over 77 minutes of mesmerizing music and poetic lyrics. The songs often take on the persona of a novella or fable, as if listening to an opera unfold before your closed eyes. That's how I often find myself listening to Black Tape for a Blue Girl, sitting, head back and eyes closed, visual images swirling throughout my head as I play out each act with my own characters.

My favorite tracks on "Remnants" include track 1, "redefine pure faith". Opening with a gentle, yet rhythmic cadence that slowly builds until the vocals commence, seamlessly born from the music. This song really gives you an idea of the beautiful words that Sam Rosenthal can create;

"if only i could taste one drop of your happiness
if only i could live again within your mystery
if only i could capture the essence of purity.
reawaken me, entranced by flesh and lace
a beauty haunts me, and encompassing embrace.
no more lies, no more lies
the vulture has poisoned my garden
fear, insecurities, shaped my actions.
redefine pure faith for me.
redefine pure faith for me."

For me, the most compelling piece on the CD is without a doubt track 4, "for you will burn your wings upon the sun". This epic song, lasting over 26 minutes, features Vicki Richards ethereally playing her violin as if in mourning. Oscar Herrera's vocals exhibit an impressive range as he moves fluently from falsetto to baritone and back as he recounts and exercises the demons that a woman has instilled in him;

"i demand you return the love that i gave to you
how can i ever trust again?
this poison forbids my new hopes
how can i take love and find purity?
i loved you so desperately - i believed your every words
yet i've watched you emerge from other's beds.
for you have taken my heart and fed it to snakes
this girl who sleeps in the garden of shards.
i cough this blackened breath - a shallow man
wearing my own hopes as your disguise.
for you will burn your wings upon the sun, my love
you deserve nothing from me anymore."

I don't generally include this many lyrics from CD's I review, but the writing here is so emotionally piercing and exquisite, I couldn't help myself. Although the lyrics may have a darker edge to them, it doesn't impart a depressing or gloomy feel to the songs overall. While definitely not "upbeat", the songs are still engrossing to listen to without becoming emotionally burdensome.

Track 7, "remnants of a deeper purity", is a quicker paced song featuring a compelling rhythm of acoustic guitar and haunting background female vocals. Probably the most accessible song to the uninitiated, highlighting some delicate yet ethereal keyboards that stand out more than in the other songs. The combination of Oscar's vocals set atop the beautiful background vocals by Lucian create an undeniably striking and compelling ambiance.

While "Remnants for a Deeper Purity" may not be for everyone, it's an essential addition to anyone's collection who craves substance in their music. It's really difficult to categorize Black Tape for a Blue Girl, but you will find elements of goth, opera, and classical in their music. Much like the music of the Dead Can Dance, listening to "Remnants" instills a sensation of leaving your body and traveling far away, to some foreign place that is simultaneously mysterious and captivating. This is the type of music where you turn down the lights, bring out the incense and candles, and allow the music to entrance you. I have found that after a long day at work, this CD works to rejuvenate my spirit that is poisoned daily by cubicles and corporate lingo.




Recommended: Yes

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