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Christine Tobin: A Thousand Kisses Deep
ByTobin is blessed with a distinctive, expressive, voice. She's also an artist who pursues her own vision with an admirable determinationand who isn't afraid to risk comparison with some of the finest writers of the modern era. That vision has seen her re-imagining Carole King's classic album in Tapestry Unravelled (Trail Belle, 2010) and setting the words of William Butler Yeats to her own music on Sailing To Byzantium (Trail Belle, 2012). Cohen is another of Tobin's lovesshe made this recording to ..."share my passion for his words."
Tobin's passion is shared by the musicians, too. Phil Robson's guitar choice is crucial to the mood of each songgentle acoustic playing on "You Know Who I Am" or "Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye," full-on electric rock riffage on "Story Of Isaac" or folky rhythms on "Take This Waltz." Dave Whitford and Adriano Adewale generally keep their rhythms subtle, playing a key supporting role, but each man can open up with some powerful groovesas evidenced by their playing on "Suzanne" or "Story Of Isaac."
Of all the songs, "Suzanne" gets the most radical re-imagining. Cohen's original creates an intriguing picture of the titular character, but the relationship seems ambiguous at besthis live 21st century versions are even more downbeat. Tobin's take on thingswhich she and Robson surround with a cheery afrobeat-cum-zydeco arrangementmakes the whole thing sound like terrific fun, tea, oranges and all. No hesitation, no second thoughtsthis Suzanne seems like a serious party animal, despite what the words might be saying.
"Anthem" is stripped bare: just Tobin's voice and the piano of Gwilym Simcock, who's also responsible for the arrangement. When she sings "That's how the light gets in" for the final time her voice lightens, almost imperceptibly, and so, too, does the entire mood of the lyric. All that remains is for Simcock to close the song with 60 seconds of delicate, crystal clear, piano.
Faced with such beautiful interpretations of Cohen's songs, it's important to remember that Tobin is also a talented and original songwriter herself. That talent may well be one reason why she's such as great interpreter of others' work: she understands the process of creating a lyric, of crafting a tune, she shares an awareness of just how personal that process can be. Of course, her fellow musicians, the arrangements and that voice all help. A Thousand Kisses Deep is quite simply a marvellous collection of Cohen songs.
Track Listing
Famous Blue Raincoat; Hey That's No Way To Say Goodbye; Tower Of Song; Take This Waltz; Suzanne; Anthem; You Know Who I Am; A Thousand Kisses Deep; Everybody Knows; Story Of Isaac; Dance Me To The End Of Love.
Personnel
Christine Tobin
vocalsChristine Tobin: vocals; Phil Robson: guitar; Dave Whitford: double bass; Adriano Adewale; percussion; Nick Smart: trumpet (11); Huw Warren: accordion (1, 4, 5, 9); Gwilym Simcock: piano (6).
Album information
Title: A Thousand Kisses Deep | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: Trail Belle
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