Wendy Rule
The Lotus Eaters
Oceanic, Dreamy and Lush. A mythic journey through the realm of the heart, from bliss to chaos and back.
Based on the ancient Greek mythic poem of The Odyssey, Wendy Rule's fourth studio album is an epic journey of love, joy and pain, set against a swirling soundscape of vibraphone and cello.
Here's what the press have said:
The 15 tracks on this album are not only captivating, but have enough strength and substance to transport you to an alternate realm....Wendy Rule's vocals accurately attract dark and sensual descriptions, yet it must also be said that they become somewhat entrancing when entwined amid a poignant cello. Wendy has the kind of voice that exists as a complex instrument within itself. The Lotus Eaters marks the point in which Wendy has evidently mastered his unique instrument and elevated it to new heights.Opening with 'Horses' gently lulls the listener into a state of repose and serves as an adequate introduction of the things to come over the remaining fourteen tracks. The consistent themes of water and ocean instill a sense of floating and ensure the journey within The Lotus Eaters is gentle yet guided... The Lotus Eaters is one of those rare albums that have the ability to instantly capture you... Wendy Rule gives meaning to the word unique...
Beat Magazine, Melbourne, Australia
The sea is a dominant influence in Melbourne singer/songwriter Wendy Rule’s latest offering, as one might expect for an album based thematically on the tale of The Odyssey.
The eight minute opener, Horses, arrives with the sound of waves and a clear yearning for freedom, which sets the tone for much of what follows. There is some of the sea’s changeability, with tracks ranging form slow and mournful, to romantic and latin infused, to tribal.
Her smoky voice soars and swoops to incredibly low depths, as illustrated on the a capella “My Heart Is Like An Open Flower”.
Vibraphone, violin, varied percussion and her regular cellist Rachel Samuel provide a rich landscape, taken to operatic levels on the title track.
She references her Pagan beliefs, more overt on her previous three albums, with the stirring tribal homage to Hecate.
With lush production, varied arrangements and emotional range, The Lotus Eaters is a clear sign of an artist moving forward.
The Courier Mail, Brisbane Australia.
World: Australian