Skip to content
Elly Roberts reviews
Parlophone
- Released: October 2005
- Rating: 6/10
Pleasant, inoffensive, confident self-penned debut from 21 year-old Irish songbird Claire Sproule (pronounced ‘sprool’).,
What’s even more remarkableabout these songs is that they were written between the ages of 17 and 19.To be taken under the wing of mentor Stewart Levine (Simply Red, LionelRichie, Joe Cocker, and Jamie Cullum) it speaks volumes about hercredibility, as do her support slots with music maverick Dr.John and soullegend Al Green.
With his vast experience, Levine does an immaculate job ofpresenting her work at its best, in a relaxed manner, bringing out the bestin her fledgling career. Parlophone have also shown great confidence intaking her on board, and rightly so. Formative influences are cited as TomWaits, Joni Mitchell and Elvis Costello, obviously by her parents.Fine-tuning her guitar skills came by her uncle in America. There’s noobvious direct link between any of stars mentioned, other than her solidsongwriting.
There isn’t a pretentious moment in sight, with musicians PinoPaladino (bass), John Paricelli (guitars), Ian Thomas (drums), Dave Hartleyand Martin Ditchum (percussion) bringing the delightfully observationalsongs to life. Sproule had never been in a studio before this recording, andclearly wasn’t intimidated by the talent surrounding her: she was in goodcompany. It’s crafted as a very mature effort, and output.
Vocally, she moves from strong to uncertain (at times), though it doesn’thave any detriment on the feel, pace and mood, which will certainly take ona better timbre with maturity. It just adds to the overall charm. In manyways Sproule is in the Carole King mould – all she needs now is hit single -and there might not be one here.
A gut feeling renders this yet another a slow burner (James Blunt / DamienRice), but it’s a very promising start from someone who’s in it for thelong-run. Katie Melua and Norah Jones have finally got some seriouscompetition.
Top tracks – Wash Over and On My Mind.
Weblink:Claire Sproule.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Wondering
2. The Deal
3. Angel
4. Strange World
5. Doin’ It My Way
6. Not Who You Think I Am
7. Flame
8. Wash Over
9. On My Mind
10. Not That Simple
11. Where My Heart Lies
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.