Friday 23rd May 2003
by Tom Macklin
After 16 years at the top of her profession Kylie Minogue has tried her hand at most things: Pop Icon, Movie Star, Model, Designer, Songwriter and TV Star. Whilst we have observed this Australian pop chameleon change before our eyes it‘s hard to imagine what‘s left for her to try her hand at! Although, with her next album rumoured to be produced by Justin Timberlake collaborator Pharrell Williams, providing the voice for Florence in the forthcoming animated film ‘The Magic Roundabout‘ (alongside Jim Broadbent, Robbie Williams & Ray Winstone) and the launch of her new range of Love Kylie underwear, it seems that Kylie still has a few surprises up her sleeve.
So, out of all her incarnations, which is the real Kylie? Well, the closest that we are going to get to finding out is "IndieKylie", cira 1997 / 1998. During this less publicised period of her life, Kylie turned to songwriting and recorded some of her most intimate work to date. Listening to Impossible Princess is like taking a journey through Kylie‘s trail of thought at the time. ‘Too Far‘ launches the album in true style. Written by Kylie in her local coffee shop on the Kings Road whilst ‘stressed out‘, this schizophrenic dance track features haunting piano‘s, mind blowing beats and whispering vocals and was a dramatic departure from any previous material. The sombre ‘Through the Years‘ sees Kylie commenting on her string of failed relationships, in ‘Drunk‘, an upbeat electric dance track, she talks about her love for her boyfriend of the time Stephane Sednaoui, and ‘Some Kind of Bliss‘ a collaboration with the Manic Street Preachers sees James Dean Bradfield on lead guitar. This truly is one of Kylie‘s greatest and most underrated albums to date.
On 26th May 2003 BMG/Deconstruction will re-release "Impossible Princess" and its predecessor, "Kylie Minogue" (94). Recorded during her time signed to Deconstruction from 1993 and 1998 these two highly acclaimed album releases feature the hit singles "Confide In Me", "Put Yourself In My Place", "Where Is The Feeling?", "Some Kind Of Bliss", "Did It Again", and "Breathe", plus the Australian single "Cowboy Style", and club hit "Too Far".
‘Kylie Minogue‘ and ‘Impossible Princess‘ mark a time when Kylie took more creative control than ever before and proved there were many other sides to her public persona, veering dramatically away from her previous ‘pop‘ image. Featuring collaborations with Dave Ball, Rob Dougan of Clubbed to Death, Manic Street Preachers, and her long standing partnership with Brothers In Rhythm, amongst others, these albums remain two of her and her fans‘ favourite albums.
Regarded by many as the undisputable "Queen of Pop", Kylie holds many undefeated records in the music world, and has proven her amazing longevity through experimentation and change - illustrated more on these two albums than anywhere else. Since 1998 she has managed to stay at the top of her game by moving with the times, re-inventing her image and developing her sound.
These two new special editions each feature a bonus disc of rare material including B-sides and remixes plus new liner notes. Kylie‘s second Deconstruction album now returns to its original title of ‘Impossible Princess‘ which was removed in the UK out of respect for Diana, Princess of Wales, following her death.
From the psychedelic cover art of ‘Impossible Princess‘ and the exploration of musical genres to the abundance of guitars and innovative sounds and edgy, personal lyrics (Kylie wrote or co-wrote all of the tracks on this album) this era was Kylie‘s great leap forward.
Experience the almighty presence of the Impossible Princess herself once again….
David Jensen Photography:
https://www.davidjensen.co.uk/
