| | Cerys Matthews
Album: Cockahoop
Release date: Out Now
This is the debut solo album by Cerys Matthews.
The album, recorded in Whites Creek, Nashville with producer Bucky Baixter (best known as steel guitarist for Bob Dylan, Ryan Adams and Steve Earle) marks an inspired change of direction for the former Catatonia singer.
The playing is as vivid and potent as you'd expect from musicians such as guitarist Richard Bennett (Travis Tritt, Emmylou Harris), drummer Ken Coomer (once of Wilco and Uncle Tupelo) and multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke (Confederate Railroad).
But mostly, it's a record that puts the spotlight on the songs and Cerys'voice, which has taken on a richer patina than we've ever heard from her before.
There are traces of folk, country, soul and pop - and much more besides. 'Cockahoop' is all and none of them at the same time and its felicitious agility doesn't fit easily into any musical category.
Some of the tunes are catchy, while some of them retain the tuneful quality of a nursey rhyme which is in itself quite appealing. And it is these songs which stick in the memory, especially the opening track, which is called chardonnay.
With this album, you don't get Catatonia or anything approaching chart bound sounds such as Road Rage and Mulder and Scully. What you do get is a fresh approach which is both interesting and stimulating.
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| | Posted 5/31/2003 6:41 PM - 33 Views - 0 eProps - 0 comments
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