Tanita Tikaram - Ancient Heart

The start of a good tradition

A mere 19 years old at the time she recorded this, Tinita Tikaram cut a great album on the first try. With an earthy, mature voice and moody sensibility, the song "Twist In My Sobriety" caught the attention of all who heard it back in 1988. This was during the period when Sade and other exotic chanteuses were striking it rich, and Tikaram was being aimed at that same audience.

"Ancient Heart" is the best of her several albums. From the upbeat opening of "Good Tradition" to the statement of the artist as a young woman ("Preyed Upon") that ends the disk, "Ancient Heart" was a terrific document of a woman discovering herself minus the jailbaiter mentality that pervades so many current young female artists. There are more than a few echoes of Joni Mitchell and Joan Armatrading to be found here, and "Ancient Heart" is worth the fourth star just for "Twist In My Sobriety" alone. January 22, 2007

Not so Poor Cow

For all these years, the song that has stuck in my head from this ravising debut is Cathedral Song and Poor Cow, the former because the heartbreakingly beautiful instrumental version was used as the introduction to a TV documentary about Tikaram (basically the song without the vocals, played over the opening credits, this fantastic helicopter-shot, a panoramic flight over a bleak landscape - a shame that it is not available on record as far as I know), and the latter because of its wry lyrics, bouncy melody and quirky rhodes accompaniment. Is it a plea for vegetarianism or animal rights? Who knows. More handsome than beautiful in the Britney Spears sense, she was obviously not your ordinary teenybopper, and the poor cows on the plate and butterflies in the bowl probably continue to sing her praises. So do I. November 4, 2005

Unique!!!!!

They don't make albums like this anymore. Truly an original and gifted musician, and this album is near perfect. There might be a few songs that are not my style normally, but she just makes each song sound good with her unusual voice. I hope she makes another good album like this one again, if not we have this one to listen to. If you possess a mind with original thoughts and ideas towards music, get this one. Sort of reminds me of Joan Armatrading. Twist in My Sobriety is definetely the best song with beautiful oboe improvising with her voice. I also enjoyed the use of instruments like the flugelhorn on the track, for all these years. Take my advice-get this album; especially if you are sick of today's saturation of pure, hyped up crap that sounds very UNORIGinal!!!
The 80's were not so bad after all. WWWWWoWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!
February 25, 2005

A stand out debut album of the 80's

" I've discovered yoga " declared Tikaram in an interview back in 1998 in her effort to explain the uplifting character of her then just-released new record " The Cappuccino Songs " . That was probably the last thing we've heard from her .

Almost ten years earlier the strikingly beautiful singer with the exotic name managed to gain everyone's attention with " Ancient Heart " , a debut full of elegant pop which , among else , included an instant classic , the haunting " Twist In My Sobriety " . That song remains until today the highlight of her career , not that the album's good moments end here . The dark " Preyed Upon " , " Valentine Song " , the jazzy " He Likes The Sun ' and especially " I Love You " ( " ... the reasons why are not to be said " ) are other great tracks for the listener to cherish . The album sold an amazing 4 million copies not because of some aggressive advertise campaign but only thanks to Tikaram's virtues as an artist . She is blessed with a deep , distinctive voice and her songwritting revealed wisdom and sensitivities beyond her years .

Despite all that though it's difficult to say whether Tikaram is as criminally underappreciated as some claim . Unlike Suzanne Vega or Tracy Chapman who also appeared during the late 80's yet continued to release compelling work after their debuts , Tanita followed her starling first album with less sharp and interesting recordings . Scared gospel efforts ( " Deliver Me " ) and moody daydreaming ( " You Make The Whole World Cry " ) suggested she hadn't deceided towards which direction she wanted to go to . Still , her fifth offering "Lovers In The City " was a killer and even on her sixth one , the uneven " Cappuccino Songs " there where moments where she offered stunning love ballads ( " Amore Si " , " Stop Listening " ) which deserved to get her to the top 5 once again . Who knows ? Maybe for her next album she has an ever bigger suprise for all of us ... March 8, 2004

oboe in TOMS

I bought this as tape in 1990 and as a cd when it came out because I fell in love with "Twist of My Sobriety" especially the way that oboe toots then weaves and waffles in and out around the melody. It sends shivers all over. Oboes are not used that much in popular music. When combined with the song writing artistry heard here and the throaty voice of Ms. Tikaram, that oboe riff is outstanding.Also I can listen to "The World Outside Your Window" all day it has such a clean, bouncy sound. I don't understand why Tanita Tikaram doesn't get the accolades she deserves. I hope that changes. February 20, 2003

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