I know part of discovering new music is, what I call, the ‘Virgin Effect’ – nobody’s been there before, you’re the first to taste the delights, the first to pluck the cherry – you know what I mean? Its also that smug feeling of finding a sound that you can impress your friends with.
I can remember hearing David Gray very early on, being totally gobsmacked, and telling all that would listen how good he was – I feel the same about Betty Steeles a young lady from Brixton who has created an album of wonderful sounds that could, apart from our ultimate BBQ mix, be my sound of the summer.
On first couple of plays one instantly gets drawn in by the lushness, the sublimeness, the quaint feel of the songs. Then you start to hear things – the brass on ‘Mudslide’, the cowbells and lovey chord change in ‘I Don’t Wanna’ and the feeling that you’re really not sure what you’re hearing. ‘Poison’ is not your normal slushy ballad but a song with many twists and turns hidden amongst a hybrid of sounds/background vocals and voices all molded together by a few notes on a piano and Betty’s dry vocals – a classic song. Even on ‘Bus Boy’ which did irk me a little on first hearing with its breathless vocals and simplistic lyrics suddenly all makes sense after 3/4 listens and a glass or 2 of Chilean Chardonnay.
Comparisons ave already been made to Bjork and Kate Bush, but to be honest, all I hear is Betty Steeles. A new talent who dares to be different, dares to be honest, dares to be herself – this album is definitely a Betty Steeles Album.
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Well I can see where the comparisons with Bjork come in, maybe not so much the ones with Kate Bush. But in all honesty, I think she has a long way to go to come even close to those two.
There’s nothing wrong with the songs I suppose, a bit light and poppy maybe for my tastes, but not offensive in any way. Which could be the problem – maybe she needs a bit of anger in her voice, think Bjork’s Army of Me.
I certainly wouldn’t (couldn’t) play it at any BBQ I was hosting, it won’t be my ‘sound of the summer’, but maybe, just maybe, her next CD could have a bite of bite to it.
Hey Mr SP I kinda agree but reckon I will buy as it could be a grower – BTW who is Kate Bush I was in school with a girl called Kate who let everyone see her bush…..but thats another story
We want to hear that story Sinny, come on tell all, and provide photographic evidence if available.
Who is Kate Bush?
Just about the greatest female singer/songwriter (Along with Sandy Denny) that this country has produced! IMO. Check her out on You Tube, Sin again.Let us know what you think.(Try Army Dreamers/Ariel/ Cloudbusting & Under The Ivy) If you don’t like those songs,then she is probably not for you.
Did anybody catch Steve Winwood & Eric Clapton On BBC4 tonight.
They did a riveting set, feeding off each other.one song,i think it was called Voodo Charm
was awesome.you can watch it on BBC i Player.
Not bad for a couple of old geezers!
Cheered me up after Englands ‘world beating’ football performance!
Godammit, never even noticed it was on, and I can’t get the BBC i Player here, guess I’m just going to have buy the DVD or wait for a repeat.
Can’t say I needed much cheering up after the match though: Spain, Germany, England all struggling – looks like it’s Ghana or Ivory Coast for the cup!
Now see, me, I like this ! LOVE the album cover too. I don’t get much Kate Bush in these two tracks, but can go along with the Bjork Lite tag. More accessible than Bjork, though. Possibly a bit of Lily Allen (without so much of an accent). Thanks for this one, Dawg. Now go off and feel smug somewhere …
Spacey, the Winwood/Clapton programme is repeated tonight (Sunday 20 June) at midnight on BBC4. Yikes, 28 minutes from now!
Spacey, the Winwood/Clapton programme is repeated tonight (Sunday 20 June) at midnight on BBC4 – that’s in about 25 minutes!
You know how it’s a woman’s perogative to change her mind? I must have been in a (very) bad mood when I first heard these tracks because I just listened to them both again (twice) and um… well, er… hands up guv, I was wrong, I really, really like her music.
Strike 2!
By the time you posted I was fast asleep on the sofa having spent the day lying in the sun drinking cider.
Well we have to make the most of any sun we get here after all.
Nice one LZ – glad you like