The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 27

THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR- C-5 FRIDAY, MAY 22, 1992 RECORD REVIEWS The Cure keeps up with Robert Smiths mood swings Mahler's songs, which is somewhat hidden in the large-scale versions by lavish, colorful orchestration. Mahler's skill in nn-f urMltinrr In Vii it- 1-11 if I r-i naiir I yen l- i mug lo iimo jjul in a in.w light. About the performances: Gabriele Schreckenbach has a lovely, well-modulated voice, usually under exquisite control. In Wenn meln Schatz Hochzelt macht, she becomes a little strained up high. Even without the strain, her tone color tends to whiten in the upper reaches.

But the pathos is stirring in the opening song of Klndertoten-lieder, to cite a pinnacle of the' disc. At the piano, Phillip Moll a sober, supportive partner. Jay Harvey fStar ratine's: excellent: from the comparative innocence of Rhythm of the Night, I Like It and All This Love. The singer also is living out a long-suppressed fantasy with an album that reeks of Marvin Gaye's 1976 Want You, from its inner-city street-scene cover painting to its remake of After the Dance with pop-jazz act Fourplay. DeBarge's fascination with Gaye, which I first detected a few summers ago during a Black Expo concert here, often has an eerie tone.

On Love Me Tonight, DeBarge's sly, spoken Intro is a dead-ringer for Gaye. My Heart Belongs to You, with a muscular bass keyboard reminiscent of '70s Stevie Wonder, ends with a "make me wanna holler, throw up both my hands" refrain, quoted from Gaye's Inner Ctty Blues. Also notice how DeBarge's 16 tracks bounce effortlessly from sexuality to spirituality, much like Gaye did in his later years. Still, this disc co-produced by Earth, Wind and Fire's Maurice White comes highly rec ommended as a decent slice of retro funk and soul with some poignant social messages. Lynn Dean Ford Gabriele Schreckenbach, mezzo-soprano; Phillip Moll, piano Gustav Mahler: Lieder elnes fahrenden Gesellen; Klnder-totenlieder; 5 Ruckert-lieder Capriccio The Austrian composer-conductor Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) has often been called "the song-symphonist," in recognition of the basis of so much of his symphonic composition in vocal music.

This disc collects three works in the form Mahler first created them, in the German lleder tradition of songs for solo voice and piano. It is good to have these works, whose orchestral guise has placed them among the most prized of Mahler's compositions, in their essential form. The piano accompaniment often reveals the polyphonic structure of Cure Wish Elektra i '2 Robert Smith's ups and downs are maddening but so spellbinding that Cure's other four band members are drawn into his intensity. On this disc, the Cure has made its wisest pop, winking at Smith's depression while fortifying his solitude. Wish is structured to provide Smith's emotional roller coaster with a clear beginning and end, but, as always, no solution.

Opening songs drag the depths of alcoholism, drugs and despair, but the Cure's gloom rock turns fiery in Doing the Unstuck, where Smith begs, "Let's get happy," only to be rejected by his girlfriend. Smith mocks his mood swings in the sunshiny Friday I'm in Love: "Monday you can fall apartTuesday, Wednesday break my heartThursday doesn't even startit's Friday, I'm in love." The Cure can only wish for happiness. Smith admits defeat in End. "I think I've reached that pointwhere every wish has come trueand tired disguised oblivionis everything I do." That unleashes a sweeping 6'2-min-ute wilderness of grinding guitars and drums. Start to finish.

Wish offers a horizon of happiness but pulls us back to Smith's reality, leaving us dazzled by the most interactive band around. Scott L. Miley ARISTA RECORDS good; fair; poor) Annie Lennox's first solo album is a well-fitting mix. FIND L(ftniPW FRIDAVS. Find 'em faster in flli Wfl the Personals Plus- Nickel mics vocalist, wrote all but one of the songs on the album (and that's Keep Young and Beautiful, a bonus track available only on compact disc).

Her lyrics detail personal pain, centering around broken relationships. It's a private perspective, but it's well framed and well worth a look (and a listen). Dorothy L. Pugh El DeBarge In the Storm Warner Bros. His teen-idol days behind him.

El DeBarge has moved onto adult-themed and socially conscious material, galaxies away makes it work and fit incredibly well. There's no problem with overproduction here Lennox's voice, an amazing instrument, is the clear focus of the album. The arrangements range from the jazzy, uptempo Money Can't Buy It to the slow plea of Stay By Me, but none of the music can overpower the vocals. The first track (and first single) Why, is a soft, whispery ballad music that's totally at odds with the angry, frustrated words of the song. And on Legend In My Living Room, the gospel-flavored vocals stand in radical contrast to the stark arrangement.

Lennox, the former Euryth- 6i rSfli m. Double coupon days! Save $4 on steam trip tickets with coupon. 1 dtW? Race Eve Patriotic Pops Concert! Annie Lennox Diva Arista '2 There's a curious dichotomy on Annie Lennox's first solo release: Her soulful, clear voice sings Jagged, raw lyrics on top of some of the smoothest, almost New Age-inspired music. But she STEAM RAIL EXCURSIONS MAY 23, 24, 25 FAIRGROUNDS TO NOBLESVILLE (Roundtrip) Trips depart from 39th and Millersville at 10:30 a.m. Price; SlO.OOchild DIESEL EXCURSIONS 10:30, 1:00 3:30 From ITM Discount coupons available at HOOKS 8i MARSH Stores CALL 773-6000 for Ticket Info.

INDIANA TRANSPORTATION MUSEUM S' fair v. i INDIANAPOLIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA 0. RAYMOND tEWARD, MUSIC DIRECTOR 255-2828 6259 N. College X' or 7 -li -7 'V' RACE WEEKEND FRI-SAT MAY 22-23 THE OLIVER SYNDROME $2 COVER FIRST 100 PEOPLE BEFORE 8PM FOR OLIVERS ACOUSTIC SET DOORS OPEN AT 8:30 PM POPS CONCERT featuring RACE DAY SUN MAY 24 WZPL LADIES NIQHT MERE MORTALS NO COVER FOR LADIES DOORS 7:30 WEDNESDAY MAY 27 Q95 WELCOMES MERE MORTALS $1 COVER BEFORE 8 PM .50 CENT DRAFT BEER DOORS AT 8:30 PM featuring Jim Nabors Saturday, May 23, 8:00 p.m. Circle Theatre, Downtown Tickets: $5 639-4300 10am to 6pm 10am to 2pm TUESDAY JUNE 23 COWBOY JUNKIES $18.00 ADVANCE CILWGV 5lh Performance Added! Sunday, Mqlj 31, 4pm Tickets: S12.50-S39 TUESDAY, JUNE 30 LEON REDB0NE $12.00 ADVANCE 11am tfO FrL.JJIeg-fT; 8pm oot 8pm outt Sua.JulegT, oti COMING IN CONCERT MONDAY, JULY 9 095 WELCOMES BYRDS LEGEND ROGER McGUINN SOLO ACOUSTIC SHOW $12.50 ADVANCE The Letter- Frankie Valli Pi The Wright Brothers May 24 r.

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