Eye Music 69

 

Eliza Neals - Thunder in the House, album review

 

An Enduring Story

I first came across the outstanding bluesrock vocal of Eliza Neals in 2015, her album Breaking and Entering making my top twenty for that year. 

 

 

This album – released 26.3.26 – is a decade later of the same Detroit infused strength and substance, sustaining the earlier qualities that so impressed and adding a strata of skilled production and new players. Third track Blues Bombshell lays the template for the album’s fine songwriting and blues heart. Fourth All Alone displays a matured vocal range, and fifth Locked Up presents those vocals layered in obvious production expertise. But the driving force is the singing itself: strong and soulful and sassy. Title track and closer Thunder in the House is swelled with atmospheric reverb and brooding momentum where Neals’ voice is again echoed and harmonized over sultry guitar rhythms, licks and slide, all building in a heated storytelling.

Over the years of this blog (and my life!) I listen to as much music as ever, but write about this significantly less, so it’s great to be prompted to now express my appreciation for Eliza Neal’s latest. In an industry that has always been hard, and where artists/bands rely on performance – so badly affected by covid and the ongoing competitive nature of the Art – true class endures.

 

 

 

To read my earlier reviews of Neal’s work got here; for more info on Neal’s history/bio, the production and player profiles, and to purchase, go here.

Many Faces Music 1

 

 

 

 

Kurt Elling - In The Brass Palace, album review

 

Stepping Out Wonderfully Once More

The greatest crooner of this modern era, Kurt Elling keeps his vocal firmly in its lineage with a big band anchorage. Stating this, there are interesting claims for the innovation of this to consider,

'a bold meeting of voice and orchestra, tradition and innovation, craft and imagination. It is big, expressive jazz — made for listening closely and feeling deeply' (Bandcamp)

I've no particular complaint here - nothing to single out - just feel it is a bit tautologous: there is clear tradition in the big band accompanyment, a driving force, and Elling's scatting/vocalese is signature but hardly innovative. It is certainly brilliant. There is a peak coalescence of band and voice as third track My Very Own Ride progresses, and if I call this old-school I am not diminishing its freshness and vibrant impact.

The set begins with the wonderful Joe Jackson's Steppin' Out (a reprieve performance from Elling's past recording catalogue) scatting and orchestral mirroring quite simply superb, as is the Bob Mintzer saxophone solo.  

Further details and to purchase here
 

Space Music 41

 

Alabaster DePlume - To Cy & Lee; Instrumentals Vol. 1 (IA11 Edition), album review

Simply Soothing

These are melodic, atmospheric instrumentals, some with the tentative and gentle saxophone caressing its singular mood, other contributions include a broad addition of sounds, from electronics, to simple percussion and some specific traditions, to flute and violin, and wordless vocal (it is a significant cast list which I will copy here from the Bandcamp page.

At times the tone is sonorous and soothing (as with Whisky Story Time) - it is always quite peaceful - and there is usually a signature warble dancing within the playing

I don't know De Plume as a performance poet, but will persue this. I also rely on what is provided through online details, and I was interested to read he was an activist working with a Manchester charity 'Ordinary Lifestyles'. He helped people there to become more comfortable with self-expression through creative activities, especially music. Two of those who benefitted were Cy and Lee who are namechecked for the album title.

Performed by Alabaster DePlume – vocal, tenor sax, guitar; Ríoghnach Connolly – voice, flute; Jess Connor – voice; Ellis Davies – electric guitar; John Ellis – pianette, clavinette, piano; Jessica Macdonald – cello; Hannah Miller – cello; Bi Roxby – voice; Paddy Steer – percussion, bass pedals; Leon Boydon – acoustic guitar; Daniel Inzani – piano; Beth Porter – cello; Lorenzo Prati – tenor sax; Dan Truen – drums; Will Calderbank – cello; Lorien Edwards – bass guitar; Philip Howley – drums, percussion; Mikey Kenney – violin; Pascal Makonese – m’bira; Kirsty McGee – bass flute; Tim Vincent Smith – violin; Rick Weedon – drums, percussion; Chestnutt – synth; Danalogue – piano, voice; James Howard – electric guitar; Sarathy Korwar – drums; Donna Thompson – voice. 

These instrumentals are collected from recordings across 2012-2019, and a few newer tunes, I think. For more information and to purchase, go here: https://intlanthem.bandcamp.com/album/to-cy-lee-instrumentals-vol-1-ia11-edition

 

Eye Music 68

 

The Sha La Das - Your Picture, album review

Tight Harmony and Melodic Underscoring

This is a delightful father and three sons second album of doo wop, soul and psyche pop - all informed by the persistence of tight harmony and melodic underscoring. Always sounding familiar, it never sounds pastiche. The Stylistics are my touchstone's echo in the listening, sans the falsetto. Fuzz guitar in the catchy if brisk closer Gonna Catch You is a blast of summer breeze.

 

Eye Music 67

 

Kalia Vandever - We Fell in Turn, album review

Beautiful Improvisation

I've just come across the work of Kalia Vandever, enjoying a listen to her latest release Another View today.

Moving on to her 2023 release We Fell in Turn (check out Bandcamp link below this review), I have been warmed by the beautiful tonal layers of her trombone playing, this full of melody and reverberated by echo throughout most: there are subtle and complementary effects. There is also a 'classic' horn clarity at times, as in second track Imagine Being Told which is bold and clear, this too echoed through loops.

Vandever fills a musical space with calm and dreaming for the listener. Here and there you hear her breaths in the refreshing real life of this album. 

Link 

 

Lori Goldston - Open Space, album review (brief!)

 

Drone Out

Cello and distortion/feedback - far out! 

Listen here (and read Lori's description): here

 

Pickup Truck Music 16