Siren is the third studio album by singer-songwriter Heather Nova, released in 1998.
Recording Recording of Siren took place mostly in London at Townhouse Studios, Olympic Studios, Battery Studios, Roundhouse Studios, and Abbey Road Studios. Additional recording occurred at Real World Studios in Box, Wiltshire, and September Sound in Twickenham.
Critical reception
The Washington Post wrote: "The singer and three different producers have combined folk-rock guitar, discreet synthbeats and lush keyboards and strings into a deftly eclectic contemporary sound. The only time this slick pop-rock doesn't upstage Nova's sensibility, however, is when she's dispensing the breathless come-ons of songs like 'Make You Mine'."
AllMusic concluded that "it's Nova's unique vocal style and winning pop sensibilities that make Siren work as well as it does, doing double duty as substantive singer/songwriter statement and perfect pop-radio product."
Pitchforks Susan Moll praised the album, writing that Nova "creates memorable femme- pop with brains, wit and bite, delving into the core of human emotion and stripping away its cliches in the process," while the publication went on to include it in their list of the best albums of the year.
Andy Stevens of the Press & Sun-Bulletin likened the album's sound to "if Emmylou Harris made pop music," also drawing comparisons to the albums of Liz Phair and Paula Cole, adding that it has "a spiritual and emotional openness."
Track listing
Personnel
Musicians Heather Nova – vocals, acoustic guitar, violin David Ayers – guitar (14) Marcus Cliffe – bass guitar (4) Danny Cummings – percussion Geoff Dugmore – drums Guy Fletcher – piano, Hammond organ, tamboura, mellotron, Hawaiian guitar, Wurlitzer Nikolaj Juel – guitar, Moog synthesizer, Fender Rhodes Nadia Lanman – cello Monti – drums (2, 5, 8, 9) John Moore – saw Paul Sandrone – bass guitar Satin Singh – percussion Neil Taylor – guitar Youth – guitar (6), bass guitar (3, 6, 11)
Production Jon Kelly, Felix Tod, Youth – producers Lorraine Francis, Hugo Nicholson, Andrew Scarth – engineers Anne Dudley, Andy Green, Jon Kelly, Will Malone, Hugo Nicholson, Andy Wallace – mixing Steve Sisco – mixing assistant Roger Lian, Howie Weinberg – mastering Brian Fanning – PQ editing Jason Mayo, Felix Tod – programming Mike Diver, Heather Nova – photography Emma Jones – recording assistant
Charts Weekly charts + Weekly chart performance for SirenChart (1998–1999)Peakposition Australian Albums (ARIA) 90 US Billboard 200176 US Billboard Heatseekers12 European Albums (Eurotipsheet)36
Year-end charts + Year-end chart performance for SirenChart (1998)PositionGerman Albums Chart93
Singles + Chart performance for singles from Siren Year Single Chart Position 1998 "London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do)" US Billboard Adult Top 40 31
Notes
References