Sarah McLachlan – Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (A PopEntertainment.com Music Review)

PopEntertainment
Feb 17, 1994
1 min read

Updated: May 1

Sarah McLachlan - Fumbling Towards Ecstasy (Arista)

It is tough to describe exactly what it is that Sarah McLachlan does. So many artists you can nail in two words (i.e., Metallica: speed metal, Garth Brooks: country pop, Michael Bolton: worthless crap). But Sarah McLachlan refuses to be labeled, thank goodness.

Many times this schizophrenia shows up all in one tune. The first single, "Possession," shows this range. Basically a ballad, there are also aspects of folk, but then there's a drum machine dance beat. It has an interesting lyrical thrust, the story of a wannabe groupie making a fool of himself to the object of his desire.

The mixture works much better than you have any right to believe. There are songs of devotion, like "Ice Cream," which sports the deceptively simple chorus: "Your love is better than ice cream." And what about the occasional rock and roll guitars on the album, on songs like the galloping modern rocker "Plenty?" There is the stark realization of "Hold On," (also on the charity disc No Alternative), which captures the courage and complexity of being a woman. "This is going to hurt like hell," indeed.

Most importantly, there is McLachlan's stunning voice... solid and in charge one moment, heartbreakingly vulnerable the next. With Fumbling Towards Ecstasy, the title belies the ease with which McLachlan lures you into her web. There is nothing clumsy about her artistry, she is in complete control of her destiny. (2/94)

Jay S. Jacobs