Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
I knew that I’d like this record when I saw the cover art. Sometimes I’m wrong about that, but usually the art is a good indicator of what’s inside. In this case, I really liked this the first time I heard it, and it’s grown on me with each listen.
There’s a sort of back woods, earthy, roving gypsy, feel to this. Robin Aigner’s voice has a perfect swoony, dirgy quality balanced by some nice harmonies. The songs are interesting and don’t go exactly where you expect, which is always a plus for me.
There are plenty of instruments taking center stage here depending on the song; piano , banjo, fiddle. I love strings, they add so so much to a song.
My current favorites: Delores from Florence, Found, and Wrong Turn. I also like the duet called Get Me Home. It’s cute!
This is a really fun album. And I’d love to see Robin Aigner on Cayamo next year!
Track Listing
1. Pearl Polly Adler
2. Delores From Florence
3. See You Around
4. Irving and Annie
5. Found
6. Mediocre Busker
7. Wrong Turn
8. Get Me Home
9. Great Molasses Disaster
Mégumi Satsu is a Japanese woman who’s been living in Paris a long time and sings in French on her new cd.She has a highly theatrical style with some great songs on this recording. I get a real Grace Jones/ Amanda Lear vibe from her, something to do with her stylised vocals and the disco beats she uses.
Bornéo nouba might set sophisticated dance floors alight, and Satsu’s vocals are deep and cool.
Aprés ma mort sees her singing of well, death to a catchy and very disco backing. The front cover depicts her dead at the bottom of a flight of stairs.
It’s all done very tongue in cheek so the effect is not quite as disturbing as it might have been.
Ma petite annonce is laid back and has one of Satsu’s haughty, cool vocals. The mood is dreamy and surreal.
Jetlag dans mon enfer repeats a song from a previous album. The tune is soft but very suggestive like much of this rewarding album.
Track Listing
1. Bornéo nouba
2. Tu viens dans mon bordel
3. Aprés ma mort
4. Lifting zodiacal
5. Ah oh ah oui !( Jan Dark mix)
6. Ma petite annonce
7. Jetlag dans mon enfer
8. Aprés ma mort(English version)
Kat Edmonson is a jazz singer with a habit for choosing some inspired songs. She opens with the very common Summertime, and gives the song a confident version.
But she continues with the Cure’s Just like Heaven done in a dreamy fashion where her voice just shines. She has a coquettish tone that teases new meaning out of the songs.
She gets to do an impish Lovefool by the Cardigans and imbues it with new spirit. She makes the song seem fresh again, which is hard to do with songs, which have been played to death. It has the hint of bossa enhanced and is all the better for it.
(Just like) Staring Over by John Lennon gets a relaxed makeover for the finale.
Edmonson is a gifted interpreter and a terrific singer.
Track Listing
1. Summertime
2. Just Like Heaven
3. Night and Day
4. Charade
5. Lovefool
6. Angel Eyes
7. Just One of Those Things
8. One Fine Day
9. (Just Like) Starting Over
10. Spring Can Really Hang You Up the Most (Bonus Track)
Michelle Citrin is one of the artists I’ve been following pretty much since I started this little website. She approached me early on, sent me an EP and a video (on VHS!, yes, it was that long ago) and I really liked her music. I still love her song, If I Fall. (you can hear it on her page, link below)
Today I learned of she’s going to be writing the music and lyrics for the Broadway production of Sleepless in Seattle! I had no idea this was even in the works. She’ll be working with a few other composers, Michael Garin and Josh Nelson as well.
Well, it was a pretty damn good time. I’ve posted my photos on Facebook already so if you’ve seen me there, you know, but I put them on the CollectedSounds picasa site.
I’ve reviewed Delaney Gibson’s likeable debut album and her second effort proves just as good. She’s firmly in the piano playing singer songwriter genre and she has real depth.
Paper Boats is just gorgeous and has a melody you will be humming for days.
Kill Me Now is a love song to make you weep, Gibson signing like an angel, to a simple yet effective tune.
Better Version of Me manages an up tempo tune with plenty of sass, Gibson’s normally winsome vocals acquire an edge here. It’s one of her best songs.
Happy New Year is a languid closing ballad that she manages well. She’s really made a fine album.
Track Listing
1. Paper Boats
2. La di da
3. Kill Me Now
4. Good Company
5. Careful
6. Better Version of me
7. Rain or shine
8. Dear John
9. Mexico
10. Happy New year
Courtney Fortune’s debut album sees the singer delivering her own songs and some standards nicely. Having reviewed an ep of hers, I was glad to get this album.
I Wish You Love by Charles Trenet gets a sweet and tender reading with some neat vocals.
You’re Staring to Feel Like Home is one of her original songs, and it’s a sensitive and thoughtful mediation on finding love. The melody’s sweet and cool.
The title song is a nicely orchestrated moment that sounds like a classic though it’s brand new. It’s that good.
Jobim’s Dindi gets a really cool reading too. Fortune’s vocals are utterly gorgeous here.
She’s made a fine album.
Track Listing
1. Care of cell 4
2. I wish you love
3. Lost in the memory
4. You’re starting to feel like home
5. Close the door
6. Speak love
7. I love the way you’re breaking my heart
8. Like always
9. Dindi
10. Bitter words
11. I’ll keep waiting
12. Hello love
Album Name: Hunting My Dress
Artist: Jesca Hoop
Year/Label: 2010 / Last Laugh
[Buy at Amazon US] [Buy at Amazon UK]
This album is not available on iTunes (presumably because it’s not available in the US) but you can get other stuff here
By now you might have heard of Jesca Hoop’s stint as nanny for Tom Waits’ kids and her remarkable debut album. The follow-up is just as magical, her strengths as singer and songwriter remain.
Opener Whispering Light is fluid and sinuous with Hoop’s gorgeous vocal framed by a smart tune.
Feast of the Heart has a supple tune for her to weave her magic against. Here she recalls P.J Harvey briefly.
Murder of Birds has a guest vocal by Guy Garvey of Elbow and he fits right in with the mostly restrained backing, and Hoop’s dreamy vocal. It’s a relaxed sound but the words are pretty ominous.
Tulip buzzes rather harshly and has a lyric about murder and such. Hoop’s delivery is as ever faultless. She really creates a mood.
This is one album you shouldn’t miss.
Track Listing
1. Whispering Light
2. The Kingdom
3. Feast of the heart
4. Angel mom
5. Four Dreams
6. Murder of Birds
7. Bed across the sea
8. Tulip
9. Hunting my dress
Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
Wow, I really like this record! It’s a little theatrical, piano, sometimes cabaret. Sometimes ambient swooping vocals. It’s even kind of beachy, but cooler.
They even have been reminding me me of Muse at times, especially on Dead World. it’s too poppy to be true Muse, but the lead singer does that falsetto thing with his voice.
This album has a little bit of a Muppet/’Free to Be You and Me’ vibe. And I mean that in the best possible way. It’s kinda sunshiny 70s. Which is totally cool by me, being a kid of the 70s. But it also rocks out a bit.
There’s some nice harmonies and layered singing as well as fun piano. I like this more the more times I play it. I can see this being a big summer album for me.
Track Listing
1. The Nuclear Age
2. Dead World
3. Dumb Angel
4. Title Bout
5. Chain Link Fence
6. Road Trip To Disaster
7. Changing of the Masses
8. Small Change
9. Red Red Rose
10. Licorice Skies
Album Name: A Passing Afternoon
Artist: Katie Evans
Year/Label: 2010 / Independent
Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
Katie Evans has a nice, soothing, almost whispery voice that feels quite comforting. At times she reminds me of Lisa Loeb. She has a nice lilt to her voice that adds some depth. Most noticeable on Curtain Call.
What Love Knows has probably the most radio friendly, single potential though it’s not my favorite one.
I think I like Think About it Now the best.
The general feel of the record is Guitar based, pretty and lo-fi folk. But the songs are nicely written and while they’re nothing ground breaking, it’s a very lovely listen.
Track Listing
1. Now & Then
2. Curtain Call
3. What Love Knows
4. This Hope
5. Seeing Love
6. Trying To Stand
7. Think About It Now (11/20)
8. Maybe Now
9. All Wrong
10. Shades of Blue
11. Dead Ends
12. Your Call
