Rhys Fulber is one of the busiest Canadian producers. Together with Bill Leeb they form the well recognized Front Line Assembly and Delerium and his talent was used by artists like Fear Factory, Megadeth, Paradise Lost and even Sarah Brightman! Conjure One is his solo project and “Extraordinary Ways” is the second album.
The self-titled CD released in 2002 was somewhere between electronica and world music – Rhys was traveling for three years looking for inspiration. In the following year “Chimera” by Delerium was out, where the duo went deeper into the realms of pop. I don’t know if Fulber stopped traveling but “Extraordinary Ways” is more a continuation of Delerium than Conjure One. As usual we have several female vocalists with one standing out. Jane sings on three tracks that happen to be the best and most catchy compositions: “Endless Dream”, “Extraordinary Way” and “One Word”. As far as the title tune sounds like a mash-up of Spice Girls’ “Viva Forever” with Delerium’s “After All” than “One Word” – despite fraternizing with trash - has a really surprising vocal line. There are also some instrumental tracks here that prevent the listener from weariness caused by the singers. Rhys is additionally being assisted by several musicians (guitars, bas, strings, piano inter alia), who took the album away from the “soulless” electronica.
Neither Fulber discovered any new lands, nor did he come up with breathtaking arrangements. He produced some really good pop though, touching the kitsch only for short moments. And this surely deserves attention and respect.
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