Sophe Lux singer Gwynneth Haynes sleeps with a Kate Bush songbook under her pillow, and any inspiration from the operatic singer is purely superficial, as Haynes’ creative theatricality gives way to a confusing mess of eccentric oddities on the ambitious but lackluster Waking the Mystics. “Marie Antoinette Robot” immediately catches the ear, but anything interesting is lost in this four part mini opera that will bore as much as a three hour late 18th century French harpsichord recital. Worse still, the most engrossing thing about the album is the cover. The adorable image of the cherubic sleeping child and cute bunny seem endearing at first, but examine further and you will be instantly freaked out by the bunny’s threatening red eyes. The only real query posed by the album is whether the bunny is going to hug or kill the child. Once again residents of Portland aim too high, and, like Hayne’s brother’s Velvet Goldmine, Waking the Mystics leaves much to be desired and goes absolutely nowhere.
~ Wes Barker
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