Choreography Subject to Change

I've always been a fan of Vanessa Mae. First heard about her during my first job after college (which isn't that long ago). Child prodigy, alternates between a 1761 Guadagnini and a Zeta electric violin, played with the Philharmonie Orchestra when she was ten, three classical albums by the time she was 13. Oh, and one of her albums showed her half-submerged in water, wearing a wet shirt and playing the violin.

I listened to almost all of her albums - from The Violin Player to The Classical Album to Storm to The Four Seasons to The Classical Collection. Things became interesting when the all-pop Subject to Change came out after a long break. I'm not sure whether to like the album or not. The pieces are very different from her usual work. Still impressive and powerful, but repetitive. Each of the tracks has its own style - as if Vanessa is experimenting or trying to satisfy everyone so she included all possible genres.

I get the same feeling with her latest album Choreography. Vanessa goes back to her classical crossover style with some multicultural world music thrown in for good measure. Check out the track listing and you'll know what I mean:

Choreography (2004)

1. Sabre Dance (new and ...)
2. Roxanne's Veil (by Vangelis)
3. Bolero For Violin and Orchestra (... improved ...)
4. Tango De Los Exilados (tango)
5. The Havana Slide (cha cha)
6. Emerald Tiger (Celtic?)
7. Tribal Gathering (potential soundtrack for Survivor)
8. Raga's Dance (only Raga knows)
9. Moroccan Roll (Mediterranean?)
10. Handel's Minuet (... now with beta-carotene)

I'm switching to Bond for the meantime.