[antness]

I'm looking for some female vocal music to try with my system. I know I hear stuff like it all the time in audio shops, it's rather slow with a bit of instruments in the background, almost hypnotic. The closest thing I've found so far is Portishead which I already own, their singer is Beth Gibbons. She also has a solo album, both are good.

Any recommendations?

 

[john_jcb]

A couple that are very well recorded and are often used to demonstrate systems:

Jennifer Warnes -- "Famous Blue Raincoat" and "The Hunter"
Holly Cole -- "Temptation"

 

[chadbang]

Jennifer Warnes -- "Famous Blue Raincoat"

Yes! Yes!

That was to demo disc when I was auditioning Thiel. God, that's a good sounding recording.

 

[mlchang]

You might also want to try these albums...which lean to the "electronica" side of things.

hooverphonic - a new stereophonic sound spectacular
morcheeba - big calm
mandalay - solace
les nubians - princesses nubiennes
supreme beings of leisure - supreme beings of leisure
mono - formica blues

 

[burndtjamb]

Everything But The Girl - Amplified Heart
Beth Orton - Daybreaker
Norah Jones - Come Away With Me

 

[lextek]

Norah Jones
Diane Krall
Jewel

 

[john_jcb]

Another that comes to mind is Judy Collins. She has a wealth of recordings.

 

[TimSchirmer]

Diamanda Galas

 

[Braver]

The Gathering (there's something about metal with femme vox)

Loreena McKennitt

 

[insanefred]

Goldfrapp - Felt Mountain. This is definitely hypnotic, what a voice!
The Gentle Waves - Green Fields of Foreverland, Swansong for You
Twin Peaks soundtrack
Kathryn Williams - Old Low Light
I second Jewel! Her first two albums are fantastic

Andrew

 

[DarkAngel]

Here are 1,000+ recommendations courtesy of Audiogon:
Female Vocals

 

[sacd lover]

Bonnie Raitt: Nick Of Time

 

[dougli]

Here are some more possibilities:

http://loobie.com/

 

[Apie]

Emmylou Harris
Norah Jones
Cowboy Junkies
Rickie Lee Jones
Edie Brickell
Nathalie Merchant (10,00 Maniacs)

 

[slindeman]

Slow and hypnotic with female vocals:

Enya - She's pretty much the queen of slow, hypnotic female vocal songs. Very dreamlike flavor.

Alpha - Very slow and hypnotic triphop with 2 female vocalists and 1 male. A dreamier, jazzier Portishead.

Massive Attack - Each album has 3-4 tracks with female vocals. Also slow and hypnotic triphop.

Of course there is a whole slew of Jazz and Pop female vocalists to choose from also. Don't know if that is what you're after. I like Ella the best. Some more modern Jazz vocalists that I've sampled and thought were ok: Tierney Sutton, Jane Monheit, Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Cassandra Wilson. None as good as Ella, but decent enough to try.