Pieter 2007-04-29

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

The statuesque Ute is a beauty so monumental, she's almost architectural. And she's got a voice and delivery to match, plus on this album, a taste for superb material. My favorites are the Nick Cave, Elvis Costello and Tom Waits compositions, but what is really impressive is how her voice holds together the Scott Walker song Scope J (If one can call the experimental construct a song).

Anyone who can sing along to, let alone intelligently interpret, such a bizarre and dark little symphony deserves 5 stars just for the effort. I like my divas dark and dangerous, like Nico of Velvet Underground and Marianne Faithfull sometimes, so Ute fits the bill. With songs like these and her vocal virtuosity, Punishing Kiss is a masterpiece. This import CD is enhanced by a second Scott Walker song titled Lullabye.

All That Jazz: The Best Of Ute Lemper

Boy Child: The Best of Scott Walker 1967-1970

Byron Kolln 2006-10-20

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Ute Lemper is a real chameleon, equally at home on the intimate cabaret stage, or starring in hit Broadway musicals like "Chicago". Lemper's album 'Punishing Kiss' pushes her repertoire in a fresh direction, but the new material actually extends perfectly from her earlier work.

With composers like Nick Cave ("Little Water Song"), Neil Hannon ("The Case Continues") and Elvis Costello ("Punishing Kiss"), Lemper lends her voice to some of her most daring musical choices. For Lemper purists though, she also offers the "Tango Ballad" (from "Threepenny Opera"), and the sobering "Streets of Berlin" (Philip Glass/Martin Sherman) is another throwback to her usual milieu. Whatever the mood, Lemper's voice perfectly colours the material. She's anarchic, unpredictable, mesmerising. Easily one of my favourite vocalists. 'Punishing Kiss' is a fantastic album.

[Decca/Universal 466 473-2]

Brouwer, Ron 2001-01-26

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

For over a decade, Ute Lemper has succesfully recorded and performed musical, cabaret (or rather Kabarett) and easy listening tunes in German, French, English and even Italian, which culminates in her dramatic presentation of twelve songs on the 'English'release of her latest CD 'Punishing Kiss'; the French edition contains an additional CD single with catching versions of 'Little water song', 'The case continues' and the duet 'Tango ballad' in French. This Japanese import version contains a thirteenth track, eleven-minute-long 'Lullaby' by Scott Walker, which is a true gem! Ten of the songs were especially written for Ute's voice. Ute succeeds in creating a unique atmosphere, transforming each song into a miniature opera. Although Ute basically acts as narrator in each of these, she conjures up the atmosphere, scenery, colour and even lighting, displaying her full vocal range for the first time in her fourteen-year recording career! The exceptionally clear production puts this dynamic performance accross superbly! Even though this recording presents a string of highlights, jazzy 'The part you throw away', 'Streets of Berlin' and the epic 'Scope J' may be considered signature tunes. The title of Ute Lemper's magnificent new CD seems to contradict the sheer listening pleasure it provides. Instead, every song touched me as a rewarding caress, that everybody should experience! This milestone in contemporary music is certain to bring Ute the worldwide acclaim she has not just worked hard to earn, but absolutely deserves!

Ron Brouwer

Brouwer, Ron 2000-05-18

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

For over a decade, Ute Lemper has succesfully recorded and performed musical, cabaret (or rather Kabarett) and easy listening tunes in German, French, English and even Italian, which culminates in her dramatic presentation of twelve songs on her latest CD 'Punishing Kiss'. Ten of these songs were especially written for Ute's voice. Ute succeeds in creating a unique atmosphere, transforming each song into a miniature opera. Although Ute basically acts as narrator in each of these, she also creates the atmosphere, scenery, colour and even lighting, displaying her full vocal range for the first time in her twelve-year recording career! The clear production puts this dynamic performance accross brilliantly! The additional CD contains catching ...versions of 'Little water song', 'The case continues' and the duet 'Tango ballad'. Further highlights on the CD are jazzy 'The part you throw away', 'Streets of Berlin' and the epic 'Scope J'. The title of Ute Lemper's magnificent new CD seems to contradict the sheer listening pleasure it provides. Instead, every song touched me as a rewarding caress, that everybody should experience! This milestone in contemporary music is certain to bring Ute the worldwide acclaim she has not just worked hard to earn, but absolutely deserves!

Ron Brouwer