Grade: A | Genre: Pop Summary: While they fall painfully short of their defining work, Long Distance, that shouldn't keep you from soaking up every inch of this sound. In the Clear is a heady masterpiece. How can you not love Dominique Durand? This siren's voice is softer than the finest silk. She is a seductress among women, feeding you a bottle of select French Bordeaux as her quiet purr brushes it's way against your ear. The pulse quickens, the heart shutters as you completely surrender yourself to her sweet hum. That voice is the thing that inspires a bunch of stray thoughts to band together to form epic Shakespearean sonnets. The grand mistress pulls back the blinds, which shield us from her lacerating charm, as Ivy opens us up to their latest work, In the Clear.

Ivy released their magnum opus, Long Distance, in 2001 swiftly flinging open the windows in our stale music space. Their unique blend of dulled trip-hop beats and French pop just defined a musical space that before was a mere inkling of thought. The album has stood the test of time and still ranks prominently among my top 25 albums to be trapped on a deserted island with. It was followed by the tepid covers collection Guest Room that seemed lost in delivery.

Download Ivy's In the Clear Now. You may also like... Ivy - Long Distance Paco - This is Where We Live Telepopmusik - Angel Milk

In the Clear is a beautiful work from the opening notes cloud surfing through "Nothing But Sky" to the final salvo of the harboring dense fog in "Feel So Free". The remainder form deep dreamy melodies punctuated by foamy tempo spikes that eventually etch the soundtrack to paradise. UK producer and mixer Steve Osbourne (New Order, Starsailor, Elbow) brought to the table his love of vacant spaces and how they can create a mood, framing the piece. "Four in the Morning" is a great example of this. The arrangements create this smoky atmosphere that envelope the song in an inviting mellowness. Then Dominique's vocals sweep in to take command of this space with a hushed forcefulness. It's a nice effect. "Ocean City Girl" is another slice of happiness. This is a spring day at the beach cavorting down the boardwalk, worn book in hand as the sun slowly ripens your face.

While Ivy can mellow you out better than anyone, they also can shift it into gear and string together the most enticing lounge music ever created. "I've Got You Memorized" gently thumps along as Dominique coos at us over our lying ways. She's even sexy when she's telling you that you are cheating trash. Our sultry goddess is at it again in "Tess Don't Tell." Its structure is very reminiscent to carefree feel of "Lucy Doesn't Love You" though it lingers in the shade. This song struts in wearing 9-inch stilettos, pouring attitude onto the floor, as it has its teasing way with us. "Thinking About You" was heisted from the Sundays collection. It has the syrupy sweetness of "Summertime" bathed in catchiness. Try to listen to this one only once. Your internal soundtrack won't let it loose.

While they fall painfully short of their defining work, Long Distance, that shouldn't keep you from soaking up every inch of this sound. In the Clear is a heady masterpiece. It's slick without realizing it's polished. It's calm without sitting still. It's breathtaking without recognizing its soft allure. With any luck, their sound will swallow up pop in one stout gulp, as it spreads across the musical landscape, infecting everything in sight.

Make your iPod happy by downloading Ivy's In the Clear at iTunes or, for the old school cats out there, get your hard copy at Amazon. Also be sure to check out Innovative Radio this week for the featured track from In the Clear, "Keep Moving."

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