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Elly Roberts reviews
Coast Records (Manhattan Records)
- February 2007
- Rating: 10/10+
Making predictions about an artists future success is fraught with dangers. No such problems with Louise Setara.One day this young lady is going to be MASSIVE.
When someone like Simon Climie says, “Louise really is something special”;you simply have to take notice.
Love Changes Everything,No.2 UK Chart 1988), and has written and produced for Eric Clapton, ArethaFranklin and George Michael. The press release says shes a stunning newvocal discovery: and she is.
Surely, her pristine singing is a hot contender for some kind of award in2007 look out – shes about to make her mark with this classy album Still Waters.It is essentially a covers album, nevertheless shes made it all her own.
From her opening dulcet tones on Love Me Still, you detect a remarkableand naturally gifted singer, who is boosted by some of the most beautifulsongs youll ever hear. This is followed by equally classy By The Time(co-written by Climie) where the pristine voice takes flight.
Then comes THE jewel in the crown an absolutely STUNNING cover of Bob DylansMake You Feel My Love. The hairs on the back of your neck will standon end when you hear this, as her vocal dexterity shines through on thissmouldering and tender love song.
Mid-tempo country inflected Homeless by Chris Porter and Peter Gordenois the familiar kind of song to appear on an All Time Greatest CountrySongs compilation.
Porter and Gordenos uplifting power ballad Wrong Again proves shecan hack it with virtually any song. Further in, Circle, a traditionalsong arranged by Setara herself is a monumental showpiece for her vocalgymnastics.
Yet another jewel is the stirring gospel influenced Cant Stop The Riverby Seal, accompanied by the Prague Symphony Orchestra, rapidly segued bySylvie, an a capella stunner backed by Lady Smith Mambazo Choir. BruceSpringsteens If I Should Fall takes on a whole meaning, and may evenbe a better than the original. Turning a 60s pop classic into a smoulderingjazz-ballad takes some doing, but Setara pulls it off magnificently onOne Fine Day (The Chiffons).
She may well have more success in America, where this kind of music is acrossthe airwaves, which would be a shame, as shes a real music star in the making.
Move over Katie Melua and Norah Jones Louise Setara is light years ahead ofthem!
Weblinks: myspace.com/louisesetaramusic /manhattanrecords.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Love Me Still
2. By The Time
3. Make You Feel My Love
4. Homeless
5. Wrong Again
6. Too Soon
7. Circle
8. Cant Stop The River
9. Sylvie
10. Let It Be Me
11. I Can Hurt
12. If I Should Fall
13. Aint Gonna Let You Break My Heart Again
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.