ALBUM REVIEWS
|
|
ALBUM REVIEWS |
|
Nell Bryden
WHAT DOES IT TAKE? COOKING VINYL 12.10.09 @www.vanguard-online.co.uk
This is actually a re-release of this album – originally issued last year, ironically with the title of ‘Second Time Around’ – it’s now been remixed, renamed and contains a couple of additional tracks. There’s a fairly even split between basically two types of songs on this album. There are plenty of jaunty Country-folk numbers with a radio-friendly pop accessibility. These tracks sound palpably like the massively successful KT Tunstall (whom she’s filled tour support slots for) but without quite the same level of immediacy. Then there are the Gospel tinged slow burning torch songs – Bryden’s sweet, soulful vocal glides meltingly over smooth arrangements while delivering lyrics with slightly religious subtexts. This year Bryden has performed live for the embattled US and British troops in Iraq a couple of times, and has therefore become a kind of modern day forces sweetheart. You can see why if you peruse the photo gallery on her website. I’m sure the soldiers enjoyed the music just as much though. A film crew also accompanied her on the second visit, and a documentary of the events is due to be released before the end of the year. There’s a pretty high level of quality song craft at work here, but there’s not a great deal to get overly agitated about. The overall experience is just 40 minutes of relatively inoffensive pleasantness. www.nellbryden.com |
