Bic Runga’s Beautiful Collision Revisited

Have you had the experience of putting on a favorite record that you haven’t listened to for a while? As soon as the first tones hit your ears you get wrapped up in the album again, remembering all the reasons you loved it in the first place. Just recently, I put on Bic Runga’s 2003 release Beautiful Collision and I felt a duty to write a review of this CD that may have fallen just under your radar.Bic Runga is a New Zealand born singer songwriter. She has been topping the charts over in Kiwi country since her debut release Drive, in 1997. She gathered a brief stint of U.S. success with a song appearing on the American Pie soundtrack. (This is the part of the article that you say, “Oh THAT’S where I’ve heard her name before.”) Yes, the song “Sway” certainly was a diamond in the rough on that soundtrack, and remained hidden in relative obscurity. With her second release Beautiful Collision she has managed to once again top the charts in New Zealand and the U.K. It’s no surprise why: Beautiful Collision combines some of the best elements in music to paint a dazzling picture. Her voice is reminiscent of an old jazz singer – soft, sultry, and flawless. Her smooth tone and almost effortless range give the impression that all the vocals on this record were done in one take. Like an impeccable crystal glass, it’s perfection. The album starts off with “When I see you smile”, featuring just Ms. Runga and her guitar, a warm welcome for the listener. Her voice carries the delicate melody with such care and heartfelt earnest – a striking combination when teamed with the understated lyrics: “When I see you smile first thing in the morning / It’s not for anyone else to know / The way your face could light the bitter dark of every street in every town I’ll ever go.” This opening song ends and leads us right into “Get Some Sleep”; a full band song that drives along with a Beatle-esque tambourine / handclap rhythm and lush backing harmonies. The rolling minor chords progression is a backdrop for the lyrics: “From here to there to everywhere and back to Union Square, when do I get some sleep?” The backing vocals then come, in a lush wave, outlining the descending chords. Bic sings: “Impeccably dressed in your second hand best / We were waiting for the taxi to come.” Beautiful Collision was self-produced by Runga and mixed by Jim Brauer (Cold Play, The New Radicals) over a span of three years. During those three years she traveled back and forth between London and New York studios, with the whole album in her hard drive. She took on most of the instrument duties, including piano, drums, and guitar. Played proficiently enough, the album never lacks a high quality of musicianship. The title track is reminiscent of Bjork, with a full string section sweeping through the song as the ¾ rhythm is accented with pizzicato strings. She sings: “What a beautiful collision / Things that go bump in the night / With such beautiful precision / Fate could create you and I.” I’d like to believe that fate made me find this album. It’s a beautifully arranged album boasting some of the best singing and songwriting I have heard in a long time. If it’s true that fate put this album in my hands, then listening to it makes me rest assured that I living my life right.