2007-05-28
A year after bringing in the workhorse, Shara Worden asks to tear it all down, asking some of top artists in the electronic music genre to construct something new from the wreckage.
Shara Worden (also could be seen as on of Sufjan Stevens' "Illinoismakers"), aka My Brightest Diamond, released her debut album "Bring Me The Workhorse" in 2006, the result showed Shara as a well polished diamond, playing rock in it's casual and less casual manner. Her second album "Tear It Down" is a remix album for her debut effort and doesn't fall off in quality.
On her debut, "Bring Me The Workhorse", Worden drained all of her long life musical impact; Gospel, jazz, classical, Cabaret and operatic training were all brought to a mixture with her later life influence, the NY Avant-rock scene. Thanks to all that musical background (each donating its own part) Worden managed to create a beautiful mix of the more classical genres she mastered and the new, always developing, avant-garde.
"Tear It Down" takes it all one step ahead. If Worden was known for her tendency toward Avant-garde and varied musicians playing even more varied instruments, here it's a different playground. Shara gives her baby into the treatment of different electronic artists such as Alias, Gold Chains and Stakka, taking it to the next level. By doing so, they open a door to a whole new world of possibilities.
The 13 new remixes on the album presents Worden's music with new musical options;
While some point out aspects which were originally looked upon, other break it apart and reconstruct in a whole new vibe. From the chamber to the dance floor.
This way, "Gold Star" finds itself trading the tight drum and bass action, for electronic beats, while the chorus gets a new depth. The original closing track "Workhorse" gets even more ambient. "Freak Out" gets sampled, looped and transferred from your room to the dance floor.
"Tear It Down" tends to bring Worden's music into new unexplored territories. Sometimes shining her out, sometimes hiding her in the shadows. The detachment and rebirth of songs, setting them apart from their origins, makes this album stand for itself. This time, it stands as an electronic music effort, suitable for your home discography as well as the new soundtrack for your local Café when they'll get tired of playing "Moon Safari" over and over again.
Roy Povarchik
