Sarah Slean has made her timeless masterpiece. Exploring the ocean’s depths and vastness of landscape, this double disc—Land produced by Joel Plaskett, Sea produced by Slean and Jonathan Goldsmith— showcases a sophisticated songstress at the height of her classical-pop poetic powers. Slean’s sorted through the muck of being human and settled the score with herself. Where Land is a testament to life with the soaring “Amen,” “I Am A Light” and “The Day We Saved The World,” Sea takes shape in shadows on the ocean floor. Orchestral and moving, “Cosmic Ballet,” “Napoleon” and “You’re Not Alone” leave listeners in philosophical wonder.
This article appears in Nov 24-30, 2011.