Imogen Heap Speaks For Herself On Her Second Solo Album

Imogen Heap

Speak For Yourself

2005
Megaphonic Records

Using what she learned from collaborating with electronic producer Guy Sigsworth on their 2002 collaboration album, Details, U.K.-based Imogen Heap--best known in the States for her song "Hide and Seek" being featured in the second season finale of The O.C.--assembled a more experimental and more rewarding album. This is amazing when considering that Heap not only wrote and produced every lick of Speak For Yourself, but even re-mortgaged her London flat in order to finance the project and release it on her own label, Megaphonic Records.

The album features the gentle electropop of Details, but ultimately comes off as more vibrant and eclectic, stepping into new territories, like on the startling, layered a cappella of "Hide And Seek," the rocky ride of "Daylight Robbery," and the funky "I Am In Love With You."

The album itself is already an astonishing accomplishment, but taken the fact that she practically made it by herself makes it all the more admirable.

Track Pick: "Daylight Robbery"
Rating: A-