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DVDfever.co.uk – Nell Bryden: What Does It Take? CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Cooking Vinyl Records
- Released: Out now
- Rating: 8/10
Stylistically, Brooklyn native Nell Bryden doesnt want to be pigeon-holed.
In a recent breakfast show she admitted to preferring to sing whatever suits her voice. Thats good news.
This stylish and soulful singer straddles early jazz, country, gospel and blues, her influences, with consummate ease. So theres plenty to get your teeth into.The once poor waitress has come on leaps and bounds in recent years since she flogged a painting in her loft, for 300k. This money effectively helped launch her career.
The thing that hits you above all else is her fabulous voice which she uses to great effect. Check the video clip on myspace link below to hear singing What Does It Take live on Balcony TV in Dublin. The buxom blonde originally released What Does It Take? in late 2008, but this version has been remixed and includes two new songs.
She may be a NY resident but her soul is steeped firmly in the Americana tradition, and shes keen to introduce us to her finely honed skills with a flourishing rockabilly title track, belting out a great performance.For Not Like Loving You she veers towards a southern country-gospel ballad handled with great sensitivity unleashing her soulful tubes with great skill, backed by a strident band providing the perfect backdrop.
Where The Pavement Ends is another rockabilly sojourn with more dynamics retaining the genres pulsating thrusts.Her husky tone is probably best heard on yet another gospel -infused Helens Requiem, though I feel the song could have been better explored for a bigger impact, as shes doesnt unleash a big enough punch. Goodbye is far to tame for my tastes considering the heart-wrenching lyrics.
Its hoedown time on perky Only Life I Know, one to get yer boots on and get kicking the dust, with follower Second Time Around being a pulsating rockabilly stomp keeping the sweat ducts active.She hits her peak with the gorgeous semi-ballad Meridian pushing the country button to ten.
Switching code, jolly jazz- country Tonight shows this gal knows her stuff giving a polished, if cabaret styled, delivery. A great single for BBC Radio 2 listeners, and one to crack the UK / European market.
The verdict: A class act.
Weblinks:nellbryden.com /myspace.com/nellbryden (audio clips and videos)
The full list of tracks included are :
1. What Does It Take?
2. Not Like Loving You
3. Where The Pavement Ends
4. Helens Requiem
5. Goodbye
6. Only Life I Know
7. Second Time Around
8. Meridian (I Love The Same)
9. Green Dress
10. Tonight
11. Late Night Call
Elly Roberts passed away in 2011, but he was a man who was so passionate about all types of music and loved meeting his musical heroes, such as Mick Hucknall at a book signing at the Trafford Centre, Manchester in 2007.
A former teacher and also a music journalist, DJ and radio presenter on local community station Calon FM, plus appearances on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and BBC Radio 2, Elly started doing reviews for DVDfever.co.uk in 2004 and he did the majority of the CD and concerts reviews on the website.
I know also that he loved getting away for the summer to Spain and I hope that wherever he is now he is enjoying the hot sunshine and, as one of his friends has said on his Facebook page, that he is interviewing his musical heroes.