DORIS BRENDEL - NOT UTOPIA

After the highly acclaimed album ‘The Last Adventure’ of 2010, Doris Brendel returns with a new album of tracks to showcase her complete musical range, both in song-writing and vocal delivery.  The album titled ‘Not Utopia’ begins with an atmosphere of excitement and expectation, which coupled with her amazing voice creates a powerful combination throughout the opening track “No Lonely Girl”.  The diversity of her writing and the ease of which she can cover any genre is evident as the track “Ebay” is her quirky take on life through the eyes of on-line selling, before the acoustic side takes over on “Drawing the Line”, “Beyond Words” and “Kind to be Cruel”.  Throughout the album you are amazed and delighted as to how Doris can create, and more importantly cover a complex array of styles and deliver it with such ease.  After the smooth acoustic track there is the electronic sound of vibrancy with “Going Out” which you return to with the title track of the album later.  If a song can be classed as progressive and classic at the same time, then “Passionate Weekend” and “Conflicted” must fall into this contradiction in terms as both are wonderful to the ear, while “Thank You” would grace any radio station’s playlist, finally with a mystical feel to begin with on the final track “You’re So Hot” is a perfect finish to an amazing album which takes you musically to some very special and unique places.  Doris Brendel is back and even better than ever, make sure you check out this very special talent.

www.dorisbrendel.com

FRAN SMITH DEBUT EP

As soon as the beautiful sound of the piano is joined together with the warmth of her northern voice, you are left in no doubt, that the debut EP from Yorkshire-born singer-songwriter Fran Smith is going to be something very special, that opinion continues until the final note has been played. Each of the four tracks compliment each other superbly, from lyrics which paint vivid pictures equivalent to a Monet masterpiece, through to the touching, poetic and realistic roller-coaster of emotions within romantic attachments, all are wrapped up in a delivery and feel which can bring a tear to the eye, or a wry smile in the space of a line of lyrics. After listening to the four tracks, it is easy to understand why Boo Hewerdine, Theo Gilmore, Karine Polwart and Po'Girl have all asked Fran to open up their shows. In these hard economic times, if you only buy one CD this year, this has to be the one! OFFICIAL WEBSITE