Album Review: Bic Runga - Close Your Eyes

This is Bic Runga's fifth album in almost two decades and comes as she is inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame.

A collection of covers and two originals, it finds her tipping her hat to some of her influences, from the obvious to the obscure. Both originals (the title track and Dream A Dream) are lush rhythmic pop songs with tropical noir textures while elsewhere she tackles Neil Young's Only Love Can Break Your Heart, Love's Andmoreagain, Nick Drake, Kanye West and the Roberta Flack classic The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face. Many fans would prefer an album of originals, but as a stop-gap this is a wonderful and worthy insight into Runga's musical world.