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Cooking Vinyl [Release date 23.09.22]
This is Beth Nielsen Chapman’s thirteenth solo album and her first in ten years, as well as her debut release on Cooking Vinyl. Produced by 5-time Grammy Award winner Ray Kennedy (who’s worked with Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Shania Twain, John Mellencamp and many more), Beth says about this album “It’s about navigating chaos. How, even despite everything being crazy, on some level one can trust that things are in divine order and that we will be OK.”
It is an intriguing and enjoyable musical jamboree opening with a co-write with Graham Gouldman (10CC), ‘All Around The World’, a feisty pop song with a country edge. Then there is the upbeat eco rocker ‘The Universe’, another single release methinks, next to the gentle refrains of the single ‘With Time’. ‘Everywhere We Go’ taps into her blues side, a jaunty number and one with a message of hope.
Beth re-records ‘Put A Woman In Charge’, which was written and released with Keb Mo and featured Rosanne Cash, giving it her own spin. A powerful declaration of female leadership that is more humanitarian than political. A noble sentiment, just not sure it works right now here in the UK…anyway, moving on… ‘Pocket Of My Past’ is a groovy number, plenty of soul in the backing, again highlighting Beth’s versatility.
The stripped back blues of ‘Hey Girl (We Can Deal With It)’ is one of my songs of 2022. Loving the vocals, as well as the musical arrangement. The guitar sneaks in and out of the song, then we have a harmonica solo which would get even the most reluctant feet tapping.
Rounding the album off on a positive note is ‘Walk You To Heaven’. Shades of Carly Simon on this one.
Beth Nielsen Chapman is one of those artists who never fail to deliver musically and lyrically. One of the year’s musical highlights and an album that will age well over time too. ****
Review by Jason Ritchie
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