Judie Tzuke ~ One Tree Less:
I adore Judie Tzuke. There is something both beguiling and captivating about her music, whether it be her honest (sometimes brutally and devastatingly so) lyrics, her emotive delivery or her ability to create an always pleasing instrumental to underscore the whole package. Her new album, One Tree Less, is a collection of brand new tunes that further her musical accomplishments and provide the listener with an engaging, thought provoking experience. The album launches with the title track, which has an organic, almost tribal feel to it's instrumental and flows beautifully. It's almost musical art as the instruments act as a canvas to Judie's story, which details the end of a relationship and the effect it has. It's a solid set up to an album that is relentless in it's quality. While every track is an absolute winner, some highlights for me including the stunning Just You and I (a haunting declaration of love ballad with an ethereal middle 8 that enhances but never overpowers the song); Joy (a more urgent, thrusting tune with heavenly backing vocals & heartbreaking lyrics, detailing the regret and recriminations that often come through life's lessons); & The Truth (a plaintive plea for honesty despite the hurt it may cause. Some truly beautiful piano intricately weaves alongside Judie's flawless vocal to create the most spellbinding tune on the album). By the time you get to the fragile delicacy of the final song, Til It's Over, you feel like you've had a peek at some of the most intimate moments of Judie's inner thoughts. It's an emotional tour de force, but it's a journey you are more than glad you have taken. Can't wait to see the tour in Worcester in April...
Slow Moving Millie ~ Renditions:
Slow Moving Millie came to prominence as the soundtrack to the sickly-sweet-but-it's-Christmas-so-it's-really-charming festive advert from John Lewis. Her piano driven version of Please Please Let Me Get What I Want was both elegantly delivered and appropriately sad blended with hopeful. Her delivery is both vulnerable and charming, and I wondered how an album of interpretative cover versions might hold up. Very well as it happens as most of Renditions transforms well known songs into completely new versions. Take the 80s indie of the original Hold Me Now which now becomes a Spector-esque, tambourine tapping wall of sound tune that Little Mix in their wildest dreams couldn't hope to replicate as well. Similarly the Tears For Fears classic Head Over Heels becomes an intimate, morose poem, slow burning into a more dramatic rendition of the tune - like musical alchemy, Millie's voice weaves a spell through your speakers until you are entirely smitten. Her brave version of Don't Go turns into a cabaret-esque Moulin Rouge worthy performance, with clever use of different sounds to build this passion fuelled vaudevillian tale. However, while all of the album is just a delight, I have to say my favourite tune is the wonderful version of Bananarama's Love In The First Degree that turns the beloved camp classic into an orchestral, sweeping declaration of love. The piano work on the track is a glorious mix of chords and notes that work together to provide a stunning backdrop for the most hypnotic vocal on the album. I'm dying to see what 2012 brings for this talented artist...
Debbie Gibson ~ Ms Vocalist:
There was a gap of 7 years between Coloured Lights and her latest album, Ms Vocalist (and it's been 11 years now since her last album of original material was released, the still amazing MYOB), so you really have to hold onto what music you get from the 80s Britney Spears (only without the car crash life). Ms Vocalist is a collection of pop songs famous in Japan, presented here with English lyrics and (obviously) sung by Debbie Gibson. The biggest accomplishment of this album is that Debbie makes the songs sound like they are standards from her own library of self penned tunes from across her varied career. Whether it be the quiet sincerity of ballad I Love You where as always Debbie shines with an understated piano & vocal ballad (and is one of the finest vocal performances on the album), or the similarly romantic Tsunami (where the power ballad chorus can't fail to have you hold your lighter in the air), they may be Japanese in origin, but are pure Debbie Gibson at the core of the delivery. Say Yes is a more playful romp, perfect for Valentine Day proposals with it's propulsive, shuffling instrumentation and a joyful vocal from Debbie; likewise the glorious However is more representative of the 80s Debbie people may be more aware of - it has an energetic vibe and a positive uplifting message to it.The album is perhaps most like her Think With Your Heart set (not her biggest seller but beloved by fans) and comes with both a Japanese & English reworking of her 1989 number one, Lost In Your Eyes (the Japanese version is actually a real treat and very well delivered). For hard core fans, be sure to hunt down Without You (an Anything is Possible era track co-written by a Japanese singersongwriter) & Potrait of Loneliness (a mid 00s Japanese cover she did that isn't on this set). A hidden gem that deserves more recognition...
Coming Sunday - self made men and their latest pop songs!
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