ep: Gospel Belles (Ind)
Reviewer: Chris Lambie
forte - February 2012
Four of Australia’s finest women of heart, soul and song have finally put voice to record. Their acclaimed live shows feature gospel, blues and related rhythms. However, these seven divine tracks are based in the spiritual, leaving their occasional ‘ungodly’ secular ways for the stage. Each Belle is a successful artist in her own right but their communion of voices is a joy in itself. Close your eyes and you could be in Preservation Hall or the front row in a southern church.
Lead vocals are shared on the first two tacks. Pops Staples’ ‘You Don’t Knock’ opens proceedings in exultant fashion before their infectious version of the Carter Family’s ‘Will The Circle Be Unbroken’ seals the love. New Orleans is Kerri Simpson’s adopted second home and she’s right at home out front on ‘My Journey To The Sky’. A soulful Diana Wolfe introduces ‘Wayfaring Stranger’ (Trad.) in a cappella style before being joined by the warm embrace of her sisters’ accompaniment. Kelly Auty leads the way on two energetic tracks painting an uplifting ‘tambourines and Hallelujah’ picture. Gentle doo-wops emerge behind Marisa Quigley’s smoky a cappella on the traditional ‘Lonesome Valley’. No small part in the Deep Southern sound is played by Andrew ‘Big Boy Lemonade’ Ogburn on peerless Hammond and piano. The recording was engineered by Colin Wynne at 30 Mill Studios and mastered by Tim Cole of Soundart. Moving through moods from rockin’ to righteous, Simpson has produced a classy, stripped back recording. So there’s plenty of space to sing along at home…Everybody!
|