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Elly Roberts reviews
A Distant Bell
Ringing Tree Records
- Year: 2004
- Rating: 10/10
- Cat. No: RTR2
Track listing:
- 1. Gently Johnny
2. So Uncool
3. Innocence Sleeping
4. Banks Of The Nile
5. Simple Lyric
6. No More Words
7. Too Late
8. The Trees They Do Grow High
9. Greenwood Laddie
10. Timeless
11. Handful of Ashes
12. Farewell To Music
13. Gently Johnny (extended version)
Spread these words CAROLINE LAVELLE; and remember them.
Its not often I make profound accolades about artistes. This blonde-bombshellliving a simple life in Devon, certainly deserves them. Just now and again, somethingspecial jumps out and slaps you across the face. Cellist Caroline Lavellesthird album – A Distant Bell does exactly that.
Now, this is somethingreally special. Forget pop music. Think swirling strings, harps, smokeyvocals, Irish folk songs and you get drama and tenderness all in the mix.Classically trained, Lavelles reputation has been gradually growing overthe past decade. Held in high regard, shes collaborated and contributed toluminaries such as Vangelis, Massive Attack, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel andviolinist Nigel Kennedy.
From the opening strings and seductive lyrics ofGently Johnny, you know this is going to be a wonderful 53-minute journey and it is. She has the unique ability to interweave and absorb a wide rangeof musical styles, considered a Chamber-Folk experience. It comes from twoprinciple sources: Frankie Gavin, leader of Irish troubadours De Dannan,who spotted her busking in Covent Garden. The other; her grandfather whodworked with Elgar.
Standout tracks include the haunting Banks Of The Nile, the seven-minuteplus of Greenwood Laddie and the challenging lyrical dynamic of Armenianfolk song Handful of Ashes. Soaring and timeless, it actually defiesclassification.
Best heard on head phones with a bottle of wine oh, and dont forget toswitch the lights out! File under : GORGEOUS.
Other works: Spirit (1995)andBrilliant Midnight (2002)
Visit Caroline Lavelle.com
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.