On the records

On the records

Album : Chrysalis (PT Sony Music Indonesia/2000)
Artist : Anggun

Three years ago, the Indonesian music scene was surprised as
former teen rocker Anggun Cipta Sasmi suddenly popped out of
nowhere after having disappearing from the scene for some time.

She had apparently moved to France and married a Frenchman.
But what was surprising was that she came up with her first
international album Snow on the Sahara which was hardly
Indonesian at all and which sold one million copies in over 30
countries.

It catapulted Anggun to a new image as a European pop star,
giving her concerts in packed stadiums, and being included in the
line-up of the all-girls Lilith Fair concert, along with Tori
Amos, Sarah McLachlan and Sheryl Crow.

A bit of a slap in the face for Indonesian singers and
musicians who often talk about going international but never
really work on it, at least not much beyond appearing at a number
of international festivals.

Yet the 26 year-old Anggun is still modest, unpretentious and
does not try to be another Mariah Carey like her fellow Asian
singer Coco Lee does.

Chrysalis is the next step on her journey as an international
star. In this album, Anggun is still collaborating with producer
and songwriter Erick Benzi who has worked with famous singers
like Celine Dion.

The album has 15 songs, including one in French and one in
Indonesian, which Anggun co-wrote.

Rock music has been left behind as most of the songs are mid
tempo pop, with a touch of ethnic sounds in several numbers.

Though maturing in a sense of neat arrangement and lyrics, the
album is rather plain as it lacks emotion and catchy songs.

But that's okay, she has a long way to go.