Originally inspired by a dream of Greek bandleader Al Bowlly and actress Tuesday Weld, Stephen Coates found his inspiration to create music unafraid to be lush and fabulous and willing to tickle the ear with textures and timbres.
Many talented collaborators and friends join Stephen Coates in the studio and on stage: Clive Painter, Jacques Van Rhijn, Jed Woodhouse, David Guez, Don Brosnan, Brian Lee, Pinkie McClure, Pam Berry, Martine Roberts, Martyn Jacques, Mara Carlyle, David Piper, Cibelle to name a few.

ILLUSIONS is one of Ute Lemper's purest artistic statements. Like the similar UTE LEMPER SINGS KURT WEILL, this album is a tribute, this time to two of her clearest influences, Marlene Dietrich and Edith Piaf. Though Lemper doesn't actually sound much like either singer (her voice is far more robust than Piaf's, and more expressive than Dietrich's), she finds the emotion at the heart of "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien," and similarly has Dietrich's cool delivery down, giving a different twist to songs like "Jonny, Wenn Du Gerburtstag Hast." The arrangements, for orchestra and small combo, are excellent, and Lemper is in typically superb voice throughout. Fans of the singer's Broadway work or her pop album PUNISHING KISS will find this an intriguing celebration of her musical roots.

The arch-duchess of cabaret, Marlene Dietrich is the quintessential glamour girl of the twentieth century. Two parts ice-queen and one part vamp, her voice -- shown-off in this state-of-the-art remastered classic collection of hits displaying Marlene at her best -- was an instrument she used to tease, seduce, and mock.