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Elly Roberts reviews
Liberty/EMI
- February 2008
- Rating: 10/10
Amy, Flick and Lynette. Three lovelies, who can sing.
Wake Up Call should be taken as the title suggests, especially forthe opposition. Forget your Girls Aloud and Sugababes, because these English rosesare set to give their pop counterparts a run for their money.Given regular rotation on BBC Radio 2, and championed by Terry Wogan, the triohave also been wowing fans around the UK.
It should be considered as radio-friendly pop with that rare thing – credibility.For the real music fan, its best listened to on a pair of cans (headphones). Withthe production and delightful arrangements deliberately stripped back, it allowsthe girls to shine, though opening track The Weatherman makes them feel blue. Itintroduces their razor sharp individual and collective talents, bringing back memoriesof Eva Cassidy and Joni Mitchell.
Lazy Sunday Morning sounds like a spruced-up’60s ballad, which it isntof course. Its highlight are the soaring three-part harmonies to die for. Leaningheavily on the contemporary American country songbook deployed by the likes ofsay The Dixie Chicks, they create more gorgeousness on Take Me As You Find Me.The song warns her lover: “The funny ways Ill never change / That make meseem a little strange / You gotta take me as you find me, oh”.
Of all the songs on offer, Show Me A Sign showcases their undisputable vocalskill, full of honeyed harmonies as they try to tease out a sign of love. Countryshuffle Butterflies and Rainbows again has a tasty ’60s throwback.
Its clear the gals want to bring sunshine and warmth into our lives. And how.
File under: Theres nothing like them right now.
The full list of tracks included are :
1. The Weatherman (No Wonder I Feel Blue)
2. Lazy Sunday Morning
3. Wake Up Call
4. Take Me As You Find Me
5. The Only Thing Im Guilty Of (Is Losing You)
6. Got My Hopes Up
7. Show Me A Sign
8. You Speak My Language
9. Butterflies & Rainbows
10. Faith In You
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.