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Elly Roberts reviews
Sire Records
- Released: July 2006
- Rating: 8/10
It may well be a profound prediction, but Regina Spektor should now be considered the new Carole King.
After spending time globe trotting, 2003s album Soviet Kitschbecame her calling card. Eager to return to the studio for two months in2005 at New York Noise, Begin To Hope consolidates her credentialsas a popish orientated tunesmith, whose work also draws some comparisons withBrit sensation Sandi Thom.
Russian born multi-instrumentalist Spektor said of her experience, “BeforeI even started I knew I was going to experiment with things Ive only thoughtabout, like beats and drums. I really wanted to play with electronicinstruments and bigger arrangements. Still on this record, there are somesongs where its really sparse. I had to be careful so the music wouldntbe more fun to make than to listen to.”
With that mission statement in mind, Spektor has achieved her aims, withstyle and panache. Nowadays, its a brave lady who sets such an overwhelmingagenda and succeeds. The beats, first sampled on simple catchy pop gem andalbum opener,
Fidelity, which almost refers to her mindset, “I got lost in thesounds / I hear in my mind / All these voices / I hear in my mind / Allthese words / I hear in my mind / All this music.”
In a similar frame, is last single On The Radio, one of manyradio-friendly songs along with bouncy Hotel Song. The sparsenessSpektor mentions applies to piano-lead heavenly beauty Summer In The City,and Lady (complete with sensual sax breaks by Ralph U.Williams). Her onlyrock concession is the bass-driven blast of That Time. Her piano skillsreally come to the fore on beaty complex Edit.
Spektor has proved shes here for the long run.
Look out Dido, this girl is way ahead and more interesting.
Weblinks:Regina Spektor.com /Sire Records.com
The full list of tracks included are :
1. Fidelity
2. Better
3. Samson
4. On The Radio
5. Field Below
6. Hotel Song
7. Après Moi
8. 20 Years Of Snow
9. That Time
10. Edit
11. Lady
12. Summer In The City
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.