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Carin Lundin: Songs That We All Recognize
ByLundin occupies the lower end of the midrange without much variance, sounding more professional than passionate, which is not necessarily a drawback for listeners who are into an even-handed approach. But her treatments can sound rather sterile compared to the original versions and other interpreted arrangements.
The opening "Ain't That Love" is a smooth and bouncy jazz ballad, a soothing reworking of Ray Charles' laid-back R&B original. "Pick Yourself Up" is nicely and playfully mellow, but unfortunately recent comparison pits it against the far superior Latin arrangement by Dianne Reeves on the Good Night And Good Luck soundtrack. "Little Girl Blue" gets the wistful slow ballad treatment, without the taunting spirit heard by others.
The arrangements on these and the rest of the songs are textbookLundin sings the main lyrics, there's a conservative minute-long solo (usually by pianist Jan Lundgren) and then Lundin closes out the tune. Again, there's nothing wrong if this is what listeners are seekingand there's more of that kind than the others who're looking for novel deconstructionbut it has very little sense of spontaneity.
Perhaps it shouldn't be surprising the most attention-getting songs turn out to be Lundin originals. "Take Your Time Blues" is plodding in pace, but strong in intensity as she and Lundgren both add a dash of audio color to their pitch, giving the sense a real conversation is occurring. "Available" is a dark ballad where Lundgren and bassist Mattias Welin knock a few dents in the passive listening experience with some low-end rumbles.
Songs That We All Recognize is solid enough, fulfilling its apparent intent, but the recording falls in a vast middle ground. Those familiar with similar albums will be hard-pressed to find enough uniqueness or artistry to make it worthy of adding to a collection. It's worth noting there are absolutely no Swedish qualities to this album, a disappointment for those used to Scandinavian jazz on the intellectual cutting edge, but perhaps a benefit to her fellow countrymen if they haven't had ample chance to hear standards stripped of modernistic accents.
Track Listing
Ain't That Love; Little Girl Blue; Pick Yourself Up; Secret Love; Take Your Time Blues; Love Me Or Leave Me; I'll Be Around; Them There Eyes; Available; You Look Like Someone; The Party's Over.
Personnel
Carin Lundin: vocals; Jan Lundgren: piano; Mattias Welin: bass; Daniel Fredriksson: drums.
Album information
Title: Songs That We All Recognize | Year Released: 2006 | Record Label: Prophone Records