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Imogen heaps on the talent with latest

Meshing unique instrumentation with trademark vocals, Heap creates sure hit

After what seemed like a long wait for Imogen Heap fans, the British singer recently released her third solo album, Ellipse. She retains the same style - a melding of electronica-style instruments, standard pop forms and an organic sound - that earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist with her 2005 album Speak For Yourself.\nThe album kicks off with the lead single, "First Train Home." This song is probably the most radio-friendly on the album, with a nice, conventional pop beat that will not intimidate any casual listeners. But Heap sprinkles personal touches throughout the song, such as at 2:44 when she sings, "So what, you've had one too many ..." During that verse, she lets her instruments out of their proverbial cages, enveloping the listener's ears in an avalanche of sound, which sets the tone for similar moments throughout the album. Another of these moments occurs during "Canvas," when she uses possibly every instrument in her kit to explore many different melodic ideas while the vocals largely take a backseat.\nLyrically, Heap's main strength on Ellipse is her ability to discuss familiar topics with insightful words, giving a feeling of originality to what should be a clich

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Brenda Gunn, the director of the Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library and the Harrison Institute for American History, Literature and Culture, explores how students can approach the collections with curiosity, and how this can deepen their understanding of history. From exhibitions to the broader museum world, she reflects on the vital work of archivists in ensuring that even the quietest and oppressed voices are heard.