Album: Pot Of Gold / Artist: Alice Russell / 11 tracks / Soul / Modern R&B
In
the spring of this year Alice Russell released the CD Pot Of Gold and
the English chanteuse unleashed some sensational songs which highlight her
soulful vocals, and put on display the talents of some magical musicians,
such as organist Ben Schweir, who both introduces and sets the mood for the
opening track “Turn And Run.” Schweir also doubles on piano, while Russell’s
other accompaniments include; drummer Derek Taylor, bassist Josh Lippi,
guitarist Alex Cowan and an incredible horn section know simply as The
Killer Horns, which is comprised of Mike Lesirge (saxophonist), Alan
Hardiman (trombone) and trumpeter Ryan Jacob.
Russell is an emotive vocalist who can swagger, as she does on the saucy “Two Steps,” which sends up reminders of seventies R&B / Soul, and she can just as easily find her comfort zone in songs such as the gospel tinged, bluesy “Got The Hunger.” Alice Russell honed her outstanding vocals in her homeland England, while performing with an eclectic group of artists which included the funky Quantic Soul Orchestra, the trip-hop British band Massive Attack, DJ Mr. Scruff and the electronica / hip-hop hybrid English group The Nextmen. Russell brings to her music the passion that we have come to expect from artists such as Joss Stone. She also possesses more musical gifts than Alicia Keys and Russell equals the vocal talent of Corrine Bailey Rae, but she has more hues and dimensions to her music.
A la Tina Turner, Alice Russell emerges from track three “Living The Life Of A Dreamer,” with a bite in her voice and with a sassy attitude. At 5:03 this is the longest song on the album and the singer and her musicians create a musical spectacle, from the onset of Jack Baker’s percussion which introduces the song, to Ryan Jacob’s flugelhorn, and the soul stirring background vocals provided by, Mike Simmonds, Alex Cowan, Matty Eeles and Annie Walters, with Russell’s own vocals mixed in. Ben Jones is strong on the keys.
“Lights Went Out,” is a fun vintage cabaret song with lots of horns, and it features Russell’s vampish vocals, as she is joined by background singers Eeles, Waters, Simmonds and Cowan. Those music fans in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, who are familiar with the band the Shanghai Woolies, will love this track.
Russell covers Gnarls Barkley’s hit tune “Crazy,” and although it is always risky to cover a song that first appeared on the scene as recently as 2006, Russell delivers a mind blowing, soulful rendition of Barkley’s missive about living life on the edge. Barkley’s original went to # 1 in the U.K. and Canada, and charted in the top ten in most European countries and the United States, so it will be interesting to observe how well Russell’s cover tune does. Had more time elapsed between Barkley’s hit and the release of Alice Russell’s version of the song, there is no doubt that Russell would be topping the charts with her powerful performance of “Crazy,” and she still might.
Another solid tune to listen for, from Alice Russell’s Pot Of Gold, is the fun dance tune “Hesitate,” which is primarily driven by a strong backbeat and electric guitars. Flautist Mike Lesirge offers up a very pretty solo. Lesirge’s flute resurfaces as he introduces the ninth track “Universe.”
If you like modern day R&B with strong hints of old fashioned soul, some jazz influences and music that occasionally possesses a blues persona, then you should be visiting your favorite digital download store to purchase Alice Russell’s Pot Of Gold, because there is not one weak track on the album.
Reviewed May 2009
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