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DVDfever.co.uk – 1990s: Kicks CD reviewElly Roberts reviews
Kitchen Ware Records
- Released: March 2009
- Rating: 8/10
- Vote and comment on this album:View Comments
New tubes. New tunes… oh, yes.
Karima Francis isnt another Lily Allen. Shes not Amy Winehouse or Duffy either. Karima Francis is Karima Francis .thats sorted then.
This very talented songbird has a barnet as huge as younger Bob Dylan that sits on top of a really skinny frame. A good omen maybe?What comes out of that frame is quite remarkable. There are times, when shes at her yearning best; she draws parallels with a young Joan Armatrading. Having a great voice isnt enough. You still need to have a strength in depth in songs. Theyre here too.
With the vocal control to be effective at first and top gear, this young lass has the potential to take Britain by storm. Her showing on a recent Later..with Jools Holland will have given a springboard to stardom.
Originally from Blackpool, now Manchester based, Francis was a drummer in several metal bands, though her singing talents were spotted earlier by her mum when she sang on karaoke aged 10.Manchesters now famous event In The City brought her much attention, winning industry hearts in the process.For one who didnt think she could sing, which is the only way she thinks she can express herself, shes made a remarkable job on her debut.
This lush collection is sweet, tender, upbeat and melancholic in equal measure. She brings an empathy and delivery way beyond her 21 years.She enters via gentle acoustic pics on title track: then comes this husky-tinged blast that gives you shivers. She masterfully wraps her voice around this gorgeous achingly beautiful ballad that unfolds into a neat crescendo. This is followed by what might be an excellent radio friendly single Again : very catchy hooks and melodies aplenty. Oh Laura, later in, would also do the trick.What comes next, is enough to melt the coldest of hearts Chasing The Morning Light. The way she delivers the line, I love you is enough to bring you to tears.
Francis, a song she performed on Later is more in the American lightweight rock ballad, and by the midway point shes opened her awesome tubes to full capacity.Theres no doubt, its on the ballads that Karima proves most effective such as the swooning passion of Hold You, a whopping love song that should win over the guys, and arguably the best song here.
Of all the songs on The Author, its the simple and stripped back ballad Forever that actually shows her vocal range the best this is where it really takes off in terms of her singing skills : a truly stunning performance that even Duffy and Amy would struggle to match, even on their better days.
The Verdict: Rising star.
Weblinks:myspace.com/karimafrancis /kitchenwarerecords.com
Radio: Hear tracks soon on THE PLUG atwrexham.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. The Author
2. Again
3. Chasing The Morning Light
4. Francis
5. Hold You
6. Morse Code
7. Remember Your Name
8. Oh Laura
9. Forever
10. Laurel AvenueView the discussion thread.blog comments powered by Disqus= 0) {query += ‘url’ + i + ‘=’ + encodeURIComponent(links[i].href) + ‘&’;}}document.write(”);})();//]]]]>]]>
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.