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Wouter Hamel: Nobody's Tune
ByNobody's Tune opens with "One More Time On The Merry-Go-Round" and "Big Blue Sea," both upbeat songs that showcase Hamel's unique sound and constant flirtation with pop and jazzpop being represented by the rhythm and melody lines, jazz by his way of singing and the occasional solo.
"In Between" is one of the finer examples of Hamel's style. "Takes me to places I have seen," quoting the song, hitting the spot. Hamel's buttery voice provides a nice contrapuntal response to the firmly folk-based rhythm line. "Sir Henry" falls into the same category, with a middle section that shakes off the rhythm, leaving Hamel exposed solely to piano accompaniment, reminiscent of Elvis Costello.
"March, April, May will make you sing and sway," is a fine example of a song delivering its text; Hamel switching between swaying, somewhere in the middle of the song, and ultimately back to Bacharach-ian harmonies.
"See You Once Again," combines an upbeat, ska-like tempo and rhythm line, and Hamel's voice as a soothing antidote, with Benjamin Herman's sax solo bringing the track back to jazz world. Herman builds the saxophone's presence throughout the song, making sure Nobody's Tune's jazz roots are not forgotten.
Track Listing
One More Time On The Merry-Go-Round; Big Blue Sea; When Morning Comes; In Between; Nobody's Tune; Sir Henry; March, April, May; Quite the Disguise; Once in a Lifetime; Tiny Town; See You Once Again; Amsterdam.
Personnel
Wouter Hamel
vocalsWouter Hamel: vocals, acoustic guitar, philicorda, autoharp, japanese bowls, crotales, mellotron, zither, backing vocals; Pieter de Graaf: glockenspiel, mettalophone, clavinet, wurlitzer, upright piano, hagstrom wind organ; Sven Happel: double-bass; Jasper Van Hulten: drums; Gijs Anders Van Straalen: percussion; Benny Sings: samples; Rogier Voorvelt: tambourine; Shirma Rouse: backing vocals; Folker Tettero: acoustic guitar; Morris Kliphuis: horn; Voice Enterprise: choir; Roos Jonker, Susan Zeegers: backing vocals; Leine: backing vocals; Henry Ronde: vocals, steel drums; Benjamin Herman: saxophone; Kyteman: trumpet; Kobi Arditi: trombone.
Album information
Title: Nobody's Tune | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Dox Records
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