Ella Blame
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Experimental ectronica
Status:
Most recent release, "Overture" (single, 2021); most recent full-length release, Unreleased (2020)
See also:
Ella Blame's site
Comparisons:
Björk, Delerium, Nina Hagen
Covers/own material:
Own and co-written
General comments:
Pretty weird experimental ectronica with stunning vocals. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
Recommended first album:
Either
Recordings:
- Ineffable Desire (2004)
- Bitter Tears (2008)
- Lunatic (single, 2012)
- Unreleased 2020
- Earth's Lullaby (single, 2020)
- Play a Game with Me (single, 2020)
- The Stars (single, 2020)
- Dancing Angel (single, 2020)
- Overture (single, 2021)
Ineffable Desire
Release info:
2004—self-released
Availability:
See Ella Blame site
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Ella Blame—vocals
Michael D. Temple—instrumental music, electronic music
Guest artists:
Norman Friedenberger—instrumental music, electronic music (1 track)
Shinji Imai—instrumental music, electronic music (3 tracks)
Kilian Thöns—instrumental music, electronic music (1 track)
Produced by:
Ella Blame and Michael D. Temple
Comments:
Very weird stuff. Ella Blame and Michael D. Temple make edgy but highly accessible music. Her vocals are frequently impressive if a sometimes a bit on the affected side. It's a pleasant record to listen to and some of the songs are marvelous. The witchy "Thought Control" is somewhat like Nina Hagen gone dance. "Dance with me (Temple Mix)" is scary and haunted rather than danceable. It's very suggestive and might have been recorded by Delerium. "Violent Silence" is an unusual song with an extraordinary vocal. So, it's a challenging and different debut this. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
Bitter Tears (2008)
Release info:
2008—self-released
Availability:
See Ella Blame site
Ecto priority:
Highly recommended
Group members:
Ella Blame
Guest artists:
Shinji Imai, Michael D. Temple, Tushar Parte, Kilian Thöns and Gary Palama
Produced by:
Ella Blame
Comments:
Ella Blame continues to make edgy yet accessible music. She's still a strong presence vocally and is not afraid of experimenting. The densely throbbing "Cyberlover" I stuff to be proud of. Blame is not one to take an easy way out when she can throw a curveball. The spooky "Incurable" tiptoes delicately round it melody like Björk can do. "Bitter Tears" is haunted and dramatic, and Blame's acrobatic vocals don't let it down. It's another song that would easily fail in less assured hands. The closing "Hymn of Goodbye" is a suitable song to end the album. It's almost celestial and sweet, Blame's vocals angelic. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
Thanks to Anna Maria Stjärnell for work on this entry.
