VoicePlay - Once Upon A Dream

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The nights are drawing closer. Leaves fall from the trees like desolate memories of summer dissipating into the cool winds. Chills settle over the land engendering countless mundane conversations about how today must be colder than yesterday and how tomorrow will be colder than today. Amidst all of this, something wicca and wicked this way comes - Hallowe'en (the third best annual holiday) is coming. Disney - never ones to shy away from maximum promotional impact - are taking advantage of this by releasing Maleficent on blu-ray and VoicePlay - never ones to pass up an opportunity to reinvent a classic - are taking advantage by releasing a spine tingling interpretation of Once Upon A Dream. Originally a charming romantic wish from Sleeping Beauty, it took on whole new undertones when performed by Lana Del Ray for Maleficent - something the VoicePlay chappies enhance with a spooky haunting a cappella version. Starting with only eerie whistles and heart chilling, barely noticeable ghost breath, Eli gives a singularly compelling vocal that sounds like it's coming directly from a vinyl gramophone - as if it has been conjured up from the mists of time by that spindle that floats in and out of shot in the video. When the rat tat tat of the finger against the mystical cane comes in, it's as sinister and scary as laying in bed late at night, convinced that the storm has bought something to right outside your window. When the entire group joins in to provide the vocal instrumental, it's breathtakingly beautiful and realistic in it's conception and delivery. The harmonies float sweetly through the ether, a juxtaposition of more spectral vibe created within the first few moments. Enhancing this sweetness (which makes everything else seem even darker and foreboding if at all possible) is Earl's optimism fueled, truly enchanting vocal - as if pure of heart itself can break the spell. One final scare proves that it can't and the fate of lovers everywhere is sealed. Truly inspired and darkly divine. Oh and fellas? Your Maleficent is magnelificent :)