Sarah McLachlan • Laws of Illusion
Arista Records 88697-73963-1
33-RPM LP
Laws of Illusion is the Canadian singer-songwriter’s seventh studio album, and was released last year (2010). The vinyl version of the album contains ten tracks, including the single, Loving You is Easy. The CD version contains an additional three tracks, but unfortunately neither version includes McLachlan’s song One Dream, which was written for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
A mixture of folk-pop and new age, McLachlan’s music is easy on the ear, and soothing to listen to. This isn’t a record if you’re in the mood for bopping around your room or head bangin’!
The sound quality is OK but rather two-dimensional, and the soundstage isn’t particularly large. Although tics and pops were very few and far between, there was a bit surface noise on my copy (fortunately, the surface noise doesn’t intrude too much while the songs are playing). I’m also mildly disappointed that the record wasn’t pressed on 180 g vinyl. On a positive note, at least it’s not a paper-thin Dynaflex pressing!
Worth checking out, and of course, vinyl-loving McLachlan fans will want a copy!