Doris Brendel, one of the most unique female rock-singers of the last decade, released her latest album, Not Utopia, on Sky-Rocket Recordings on 1st July 2012. The daughter of famed classical pianist Alfred Brendel, her distinctive vocals were the driving force behind 1990s alt-rockers The Violet Hour, who were signed to Sony when they released their now revered, classic album ‘The Fire Sermon’ in 1991. After the highly acclaimed album 'The Last Adventure' which was released in 2010, Brendel forges ahead with the next chapter, once again reflecting her multi-faceted personality with an eclectic collection of songs popularly described as 'Progressive Pop', 'Not Utopia' spans pop, rock, prog and acoustic styles, confronting happy and sad topics with a humorous, angst-ridden style, blending them into a cocktail of sound and meaning. Unlike Brendel's previous offering, which was recorded live, 'Not Utopia' is a studio project recorded and produced by multi-instrumentalist Lee Dunham, guitarist of rock/metal band Primary Slave, which has resulted in a more progressive sound while still incorporating Brendel's distinctive, husky vocals. To quote John Brand (manager & producer, Stereophonics, Cult, Waterboys etc) "Brendel is and always has been a great singer and her vocals shine through. Her voice is so unique it's impossible to compare her successfully to any other." Starting with the heaviest track, 'No Lonely Girl' rubs shoulders with nu-rock (Garbage/ Evanescence), 'Ebay' is a quirky lyric-driven sad and humorous ballad. 'Going Out' and 'Not Utopia' are more electronic modern productions blending pop and rock (Blondie), whereas 'Beyond Words' and 'Kind to be Cruel' have been recorded with acoustic instruments and string arrangements. 'Conflicted' and 'Passionate Weekend' veer more towards the progressive and will charm the Violet Hour fan within you. Once again Brendel dares to do what no other does and has created an album of breathtaking versatility.