Reviews
Artist:Rebecca Hollweg
Album:Orange Roses
Label:Emu Records
Tracks:11
Website:http://www.myspace.com/rebeccahollweg
Meticulous craftsmanship and exquisite songs from this West Country songwriter 'ORANGE ROSES' is the second album by London-based singer/songwriter Rebecca Hollweg, following on from her 2001 debut album 'June Babies'. No doubt this hiatus was due to raise a family with the arrival of young daughter Ruby, now aged 4 who participates on this recording by singing into the microphone on the hidden track – Sweet touch from mummy!
Rebecca’s music came to my attention when Country Radio starting playing the single and title track. Then most recently she did a session on Janis Longs Radio 2 show. Encouraged by this I went to see Rebecca play a superb set at the National Theatre Foyer and came home happy armed with this CD! It’s a collection of 9 insightful and classy songs, which gel beautifully.
The album is produced by her husband, musician and bass player Andy Hamill and features contributions from excellent session players ‘, Mike Outram (guitar), Phil Peskett (piano), Tom Gordon (drums) and also Julian Ferraretto (violin, viola and string arrangements).
Singer-songwriter and artist Jeb Loy Nichols designed the CD cover.
Rebecca writes deceptively about the everyday things of life.The opener Love Me Back is magical, rhythmical jazz pop. With its gentle pace and soft percussion it sets the tempo for a listening experience of mellow, melodic songs with tinges of country, folk, jazz and pop. Orange Roses with the sensitive pleasant piano intro is heart tugging. This beautiful track is personally my contender for song of the year. It’s about wiping away the sadness and embracing new beginnings. "Sometimes it seems that it’s all endings / Strings of sad farewells and long goodbyes / But time has come to celebrate beginnings / Time to wipe the sadness from our eyes " she sings on this polished performance.These Are My Tears with its smooth electric guitar is something you could imagine the late Karen Carpenter wrapping her voice around this near perfect pop song. Worse Things Happen is about a bad day in south London but could be applied anywhere! -It has sing-a-long quality with a delicious charm.
As a cinematic storyteller on Somerset she relates happy childhood memories of growing up and moving forward but with a yearning to return to those carefree days. Artistry, is something that runs through her veins and both her parents are painters. In fact Rebecca and Andy Hamill are depicted in a large mural that wraps around the brasserie, commissioned and painted by her father Alexander Hollweg at the new Charlotte Street Hotel in London.
The sweet and jazzy Mushroom Song is something this engaging singer wrote at the tender age of 16 and with its simple piano and sparse arrangement it was indeed a goose-bump experience on a first listen.Rocked By Your Love is both stylish and romantic, it offers a sensual vocal and features extended interplay with a soft electric guitar and deep double bass. More poetic beauty is on display on the introspective Falling, which wrestles with issues of love believing that it will be like a raft upon the sea. A perfect late night listen.
Short on playing time yes, but highly listenable from beginning to end which has you reaching for the replay button for more chill-out joy - Music of the highest quality.
Andy Cole