Britta Phillips: Luck or Magic

You've probably heard the voice of Britta Phillips before, whether in bands like the Belltower or Ultrababyfat in the 90s, or with her husband Dean Wareham in Luna and as the duo Dean & Britta in the new millennium. Heck, you might even recognize her as the singing voice of the animated cartoon character Jem! But when she makes her solo debut, as she does on Luck or Magic, Phillips achieves the neat trick of placing her familiar voice in a whole new setting.

One of her best slight-of-hand moves is to have included an equal mix of evocative original compositions and well-chosen cover songs, craftily blending the old with the new. Thus tracks like the Cars' "Drive" or Fleetwood Mac's "Landslide" get a sympathetic reinterpretation worthy of the attempt, especially when set alongside Phillips' own tunes, which use the comfortable structures of yesteryear and add some subtle contemporary electronic flourishes. What is old sounds fresh and new, while the new tracks already feel like classics! It is the mark of a musical veteran stretching her wings, and it is a welcome variation from a favorite artist.

-Eric J. Lawrence

Tracklist:

1. Daydream

2. Do It Last

3. One Fine Summer Morning

4. Million Dollar Doll

5. Drive

6. Fallin' In Love

7. Luck or Magic

8. Landslide

9. Wrap Your Arms Around Me

10. Ingrid Superstar