LEE FIELDS & THE EXPRESSIONS, Special Night (Big Crown): 4 STARS Highlights: the open-highway redemption of “Runnin’ Just in Case” (“Happiness ain’t prison but there’s freedom in a broken heart”), the healing “Getaway Driver,” rockabilly-riffing “Ugly Lights,” the yearning dream “Smoking Jacket,” melancholy “Tin Man” (“If you don’t mind the scars/ You give me your armor and you can have my heart”), and hopeful “I’ve Got Wheels.” It’s a bruised statement of humanity and resilience, and strikingly honest.
Warmed by acoustic and baritone guitars, piano, steel, horns and some Daniel Lanois-style sonics, it’s stripped of production bombast that choked “Platinum.” Emotionally tempered, Lambert delivers her most personal vocal performances, like she’s taking stock of self and dreams. “Platinum” felt like image-conscious demographic-pushing this double album, co-written with some of Nashville’s earthier songwriters, feels like reclamation of creative roots. MIRANDA LAMBERT, The Weight of These Wings (Vanner/Sony Music Nashville): 4 STARS
Nicholas’ voice is thin and rough but knowing, and his dexterous slide playing offers evocative, ear-pleasing compensation. The Gary Nicholson co-write “Play Me (Like You Play Your Guitar)” is a greasy highlight the moody “Roll on Mississippi,” “Bayou Blues” and the earnest title track are also noteworthy. The veteran Austin guitarist, harmonica player and former Snooky Pryor sideman savvily positions blues within a broader Americana canvas while mixing choice Willie Dixon and Sleepy John Estes covers with originals co-written mostly with multi-instrumentalist Scrappy Jud Newcomb. The standout’s “A House is Not a Home,” as elegant as it is heartbreaking. Collaborating with husband (and Dionne Warwick musical director) Rob Shirakbari, she strolls through lush arrangements of the Burt Bacharach/Hal David catalogue, slowing down the Carpenters’ “Close to You” and closing anthem “What the World Needs Now is Love” just enough to personalize them. With glass-smooth delivery and warm tones eerily reminiscent of Karen Carpenter, this UK songbird’s affection for midtempo ’70s-style pop seems preordained. RUMER, This Girl’s in Love (A Bacharach & David Songbook) (East West): 3 STARS Listening to outtakes and alternate mixes on this two-disc anniversary set, it’s illuminating to hear how Welch’s vocal style shifted as various melodies and rhythmic emphases evolved. Songs like “Orphan Girl” and “Tear This Stillhouse Down” have since become Americana staples. It seemed an anomaly, an Appalachian blast from the past composed by a pair of Berklee grads: the LA-raised Welch and partner David Rawlings, whose refined guitar mastery shapes and deepens their sound. Welch was a festival favorite already championed by song miners like Emmylou Harris when “Revival” emerged to impressed reviews in 1996. 1 The Official Revival Bootleg (Acony): 4 STARS Highlights: “Breathing Underwater,” “Sweet Architect,” “Give Me Something.” More such moments - and more rhythmic variation - would make it easier to connect with the human need expressed. A swelling chorus and big production helped make “Hurt” a hit, but “Give Me Something’”s simplicity’s more effective acoustic guitar and piano leave ample room for Sandé’s poignant plea (“Give me something that I can believe in”) to reverberate. Opening track “Selah” declares, “My love is the bomb and forgiveness is the rocket” backed by a shimmery gospel choir that embellishes most of these 15 tracks. Post-divorce, the soul-pop chart-topper strives for cathartic release and spiritual comfort. Like Humdrum Hong Kong on Facebook for more articles like this in the future.EMELI SANDÉ, Long Live the Angels (Capitol): 3 STARS Eric Estornel)Ģnd: Dixon, Barnt, Nina Kraviz, Todd Terjeģrd: Âme, Hot Chip, Matthew Dekay & Lee Burridge, Ry Cuming & Frank Wiedemannģrd: Visionquest, Wolf + Lamb, Ellum Audio This is his best remix yet, maybe after the 2011 Singing rerubs.ġst: Maetrik / Maceo Plex (a.k.a. Have such good memories of catching Dixon at Barcelona in Sonar this year, and he’s fast become one of my favourites. I still prefer the stuff Eric Estornel produces as Maetrik over his Maceo Plex guise, and this track really sums up why: rib-shaking beats and simple but devastating basslines. Geffen is really nothing more than a beat and a fun little octave-driven synth line, but it drove people crazy every single time. It was always fun watching the crowd when dropping this weird little number.
HOT CHIP FLUTES SASHA REMIX ZIPPY PLUS
I don’t usually go for big vocal tracks, but there’s something quite stirring about this guy’s singing – plus the track comes to a pretty powerful conclusion. A duo who’ve produced some forward-thinking dancefloor material, and the strings on this track get me every time.
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