Chris Isaak: Heart Shaped World (Hybrid-SACD)

Chris Isaak: Heart Shaped World (Double Hybrid SACD)

When Chris Isaak’s *Heart Shaped World* hit the record shops in June 1989, there was really nothing else like it in contemporary pop music. More than three decades later, the singer-songwriter’s third album still sounds unique, and his spectacular vocals – flawless, controlled, intense, contemplative, passionate, fiery and haunting – have certainly contributed to the album’s sales of over 2.5 million copies to date. ‘Heart Shaped World’, which also features the unforgettable Top 10 hit ‘Wicked Game’, remains a masterfully atmospheric piece that invites the listener to enjoy a drink late at night, settle into a room with subdued lighting and savour Isaak’s reflections on love, relationships and questionable decisions.

Upon its release, ‘Heart Shaped World’ spent ten weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 149. However, in October 1990, after Lee Chesnut had played ‘Wicked Game’ repeatedly for two weeks whilst listening to an instrumental version of the song on the soundtrack to David Lynch’s film ‘Wild at Heart’, Reprise Records released ‘Wicked Game’ as a single, and the album immediately shot up to number 7 in the Billboard charts.

Had director David Lynch not specifically selected two tracks from “Heart Shaped World” for his film, the album would probably have suffered the same fate as Isaak’s earlier works and gone unnoticed by the mainstream. Although the album was highly praised upon its original release by media outlets such as NME, the Chicago Tribune and Rolling Stone, it dropped out of the charts after just a few weeks. But everything changed with Lee Chesnut, then music director at a major radio station in Atlanta. Boosted by the sensual video featuring Isaak and supermodel Helena Christensen, which was played heavily on MTV, the song found its way into the public consciousness in early 1991 and helped turn Isaak into a highly unusual star.

Despite its vintage flair and shared DNA with legends such as Roy Orbison, Chet Baker and Glen Campbell, ‘Heart Shaped World’ transcends nostalgia, rockabilly and retro clichés. For all its melodrama and sadness, Isaak’s magnificent baritone delves deep beneath the emotional surface. He delves for subtleties that suggest his feelings go beyond heartbreak and anguish, occasionally hinting at frustration, threat and anger. You can hear it in his quivering falsetto and in the slow, methodical way he lets delicate whispers merge into shadowy phrasing that delves into the darker sides of romance and desire. The sonic aesthetic, which could have come straight from a Memphis blues joint and is interwoven with a rich variety of stylistic variations, allows the listener to physically experience Isaak’s emotional anguish.

Lovingly mastered from the original tapes at MoFi’s Californian studio and presented in a mini-LP-style gatefold sleeve, this hybrid SACD presents this classic in audiophile reference quality for the first time. Fascinating naturalness and captivating presence, combined with unclouded clarity, unrestrained dynamics and a great attention to detail: the hybrid SACD of ‘Heart Shaped World’ allows the listener to immerse themselves more deeply than ever before in the album’s lonely atmosphere and contemplative themes!

We recommend using [Artikellink_26667]Phonosophie Aktivator CD-FluxLinkEnde] to further improve the sound quality.

Tracks on this hybrid SACD:
1. Heart Shaped World
2. I’m Not Waiting
3. Don’t Make Me Dream About You
4. Kings Of The Highway
5. Wicked Game
6. Blue Spanish Sky
7. Wrong To Love You
8. Forever Young
9. Nothing’s Changed
10. In The Heat Of The Jungle
11. Diddley Daddy (Bonus Track)