Heidi Berry
Pomegranate
(4AD Records)

Heidi Berry is not Elizabeth Frazier. She is not Lisa Germano. Tanya Donelly and Kristin Hersh have nothing to do with her. She was never a member of The Pixies or The Breeders. No, Heidi Berry is an accomplished singer on the 4AD label. You might not know who she is, but she has a greatest hits album in stores right now. Heidi has been putting out albums on 4AD for about ten years prior to this record, and on Creation Records before that. Hell, she’s underground, and you can’t get much cooler than that.

Vocally, she sounds like a less grandiose version of Lisa Gerrard from Dead Can Dance while, musically, she’s like Enya without the Irish to bring in a worldwide audience. Basically, Heidi Berry sounds like what you hear when you walk into an Illuminations candle store or a Pier 1 store, but without the overabundant smell of potpourri. Heidi’s music is what you put on when you are trying to create “that certain mood.” Goth clubs would do well to have a down-tempo number or two by her.

Love is in the air in all of her songs. It makes her happy, sad and even angry. You can still get pissed off with a soft voice. On this album, you’ll hear a Husker Du cover (“Up in the Air”), a splendid demo of “The Mountain” featured on the All Virgos are Mad compilation, and the ethereal ”Follow;” all feature the best of what Heidi has to offer. So turn off the lights, burn your scented candles, fix a cappuccino and chill while Heidi Berry oozes out of your speakers.
7 blips out 10
 
By Nick Hyman