Search - Various Artists :: Breaking Glass

Powerful nihilism at its best

Stephen J. Voss | Pearland, TX USA | 09/04/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Reminiscent of Lene Lovich's powerful work, Hazel O'Connor absolutely blew me away the first time I heard this. I only knew this music from the soundtrack, a gift from a Dutch friend when it was first released. Then, to see the music attached to dangerous, disturbed images in the movie was almost too much for one sitting. Through it all, however, is O'Connor's voice, raging against the straighjacket placed around us by society, industry and our blind obedience to technology at any cost.The amazing thing is this jarring, strident album has real lyrics, real melody, harmony. It is music - in a genre when those values are often ignored or rejected."

Breaking Glass still stands in '06

Sunday Kazas | Providence, RI | 08/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had never heard of Hazel O'Connor until this year. I am a huge fan of Punk, yet I don't remember her or "Breaking Glass".

I bought the soundtrack after it was recommended to me. I liked it when I heard it, and gave it a rest for a few months. I popped it back into the CD player about 2-weeks ago and Hazel has temporarily bumped Ray Davies (who had previously precluded my ability to listen to anything other than the Kinks). The songs are instantly 'catchy', but upon further and extended listening they become infectious. I don't know how it all fits into the film as I did not see it, but the music stands on its own quite well.

From what I know about Ms. O'Connor, she is pretty much a little-known pioneer. I don't know any of her other music, but this CD makes me curious all the more. I highly recommend "Breaking Glass" to anyone who enjoys post-Punk or New Wave music from the 80s.

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A Gem of Pink / New Wave Underground

J. Golden | N.C. | 08/07/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I really enjoyed the punk / new wave cult classic film `Breaking Glass starring Hazel O'Connor and wanted this sound track ever since. The album is a fairly strong new wave punk effort. Listening to it often brings to mind the porn cult classic film `Café Flesh' for some queer reason. I believe Hazel could have made a perfect soundtrack for the movie.

Unfortunately O'Connor has virtually went unknown to mainstream audiences but always maintaining a strong cult following since the 80s. Seem her Bowie/Lennox-esque persona was to much for the average pop listener. Like other Nina Hagan, Klaus Nomi and other new wavers of the 80s O'Connor was something quite unique and possibly ahead of her time. Certainly she is an artist that any fan of punk and new wave underground should look into.

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