Anthony Stewart Head + George Sarah
Music For Elevators
Beautiful Is As Beautiful Does
Music For Elevators represents the debut collaboration of actor/singer/songwriter Anthony Stewart Head (best known as Giles on TV’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and electronic music producer/composer George Sarah, and is aptly named. Made up largely of low key, atmospheric, downbeat tracks, Music For Elevators wouldn’t be out of place in an elevator, or anywhere else quiet, relaxing music is appropriate. That’s not to say that this is mere Muzak, but it’s definitely best suited to rainy days and sleepy moods. Head has a fantastic voice (as Buffy viewers found out on the show’s recent, groundbreaking musical episode), and easily carries the 14 tracks here on his talent and personality. While the soundscapes do tend to meander and drift in and out of the listener’s consciousness, it’s not owing to a lack of talent on the artists’ part, but to the nature of the music itself. The closest comparison I can make is to Seal – a great singles artist who also tends to fade into the background over the course of a full album – but certainly this music will appeal to fans of the likes of Everything But the Girl, and to a lesser extent, even Portishead.
Buffy fans will also want to make note that the record features guest appearances from Head’s co-stars Amber Benson, James Marsters, and Alyson Hannigan, and that one of the best tracks, “Last Time,” is written by Buffy creator Joss Whedon, making Music For Elevators a must-buy for any serious Buffy fan. But I think non-_Buffy_ fans will find a lot to like here, too, as Head and Sarah have cooked up a great album to put on when you’re ready to relax and unwind at the end of a long day.
Beautiful Is As Beautiful Does: http://www.biabd.com • Anthony Stewart Head + George Sarah: http://www.dungeonkids.com/ANTHONY\_AND\_GEORGE/
