Retro-review: ‘Enchant’ by Emilie Autumn
Emilie Autumn’s 2003 debut album Enchant has a major problem in my opinion.
It’s not her singing.
It’s not the music.
All the individual parts do their job just fine.
The problem is that it doesn’t sound like there’s anything beneath the surface.
The production has polished the sound so much that Enchant has nothing that feels raw or viceral to it. It’s like going to a baseball game where no one gets dirty, nobody sweats and they hit all the balls within the confines of the field, with no fouls, no walks and no home runs.
Autumn is a good vocalist. She has a wide range and a quick tongue, allowing her to go from slow and dark to fast and taunting. But all that loses its effect with the overall sterile and synthetic feel of the album.
Enchant makes you almost feel like you’re listening to a fictional band on a TV series or movie. There’s just something that doesn’t feel “real” about many of the songs on Enchant. It just feels like many of the songs just lack any sort of soul.
Which is a shame because not only did Autumn do all the vocals and play the violin, but she also wrote all of the tracks. The fact that she put so much work into Enchant makes me reluctant to call it a “bad” album. But, unfortunately, it’s not as good as it could be.
The album
Things do get off to a promising start. “Across the Sky” sounds much like the theme to the Phantasm movies before Autumn starts singing. She gives a slow burn performance, letting her voice build up the song to a simmering point. Unlike later in the album, there is a bit of “realness” in this song that doesn’t make it feel like it has been bleached of all imperfection.
“How Strange” is another good song. It may be Autumn’s best performance on the album. She shows off fast vocals that would leave many other singers tongue tied and throws in just enough nuance to draw you in, making you feel like there’s something there beyond the lyrics.
The beats get faster with “Chambermaid,” but this is where things start sounding kind of processed. Don’t get me wrong, this is a good song. As far as the actual music goes, it’s probably one of the strongest tracks and kind of reminds me of Ozric Tentacles. But, unfortunately, this is where Autumn begins to lose some of her individuality, beginning to sound kind of like a person who provides vocals instead of a singer.
From here, the music starts reminding me of the music I’ve heard in animes, particularly .hack//Sign. Tracks like “Rapunzel,” “Juliet” and “Ever” give you the feeling that there’s a visual element missing. It’s like the music is meant to go along with a scene, but lacking that, it feels like something is missing.
Another problem is that these tracks sound like something you’d hear on a show like The Voice or American Idol. Instead of being unique, it sounds like she’s with a band that’s over-rehearsed to too-perfect perfection and her own vocals lack any sort of identity, much like the amateurs on the aforementioned singing competitions.
Then there is “Second Hand Faith,” a song that sounds almost too much like Fiona Apple’s song “Criminal.”
It’s at this point where I asked myself “why bother? It’s not going to get any better.”
“Rose Red” is one of the few songs that stands on its own. Autumn brings her violin to the forefront. Sure, it’s still a bit processed-sounding for me, but unlike many of the other songs on the album, it’s got a rhythm and melody that make it memorable.
“Castle Down” is where Autumn finally has a chance to shine again. Through most of it, it’s just her and a piano with some ethereal sound to add mood. Her vocals sound a bit more raw, which is a very good thing. It’s also a performance where she steps up and makes the listener feel something, which I think is missing on much of the album.
“If You Feel Better” is the last song that really stands out on the album. It’s with this track that I feel like Autumn finally hit her stride. She sounds good, the instruments sound good and the song is solid.
The verdict
Enchant is the first Emilie Autumn album that I listened to. I’m unsure if I want to move forward and listen to another one. I know Autumn has a very devoted fanbase, but I have trouble believing it’s because of this album. Aside from a few moments, there’s just nothing on it that makes me interested in hearing more.
If you’re the sort of person who gets the urge to listen to catchy music that doesn’t feel mainstream, then I’d say go find an album by Medicine. Enchant may be a little different, but it’s just too processed and hollow to really grab you.
