Charlie Dore
Album: Milk Roulette
Label: Black Ink Music
Tracks: 10
Website: http://www.charliedore.com

Although best known as a singer-songwriter, Charlie Dore has a multi-faceted career that includes acting in film, TV and radio, comedy-improvisation and composition for film and TV. She studied drama at the Arts Educational School, Tring and London.

She is possibly best known to music fans for her eponymous "Pilot of the airways" released in 1979. Since I received this latest album to review, I have not been able to get "Pilot" out of my head and even woke up singing it this morning. I know that when I first heard the track all those years ago I thought it was Mary Hopkin the Welsh singer who became famous in 1968. I hope that comment does not offend Charlie as I think they both have outstanding voices!

Over the years, Charlie's music has been sung by a number of artists including Tina Turner, George Harrison, Celine Dion, Paul Carrack, Lisa Stansfield, Hayley Westernra, Ricky Ross, Worlds Apart, and Jimmy Nail. This demonstrates so well what a talented song writer she is and how highly she is respected in the music industry.

This latest album, the 8th of her career, has apparently been recorded in her house although to listen to it you would not know that. Charlie's voice has a beautiful, crystal clear and an almost innocent sound to it. The backing is always subtle allowing her voice to soar with her superb diction adding to the wondrous effect.

The album came with a series of notes written by Charlie explaining the stories behind each song. I think this a fabulous idea and provides the listener with a real insight into the songwriter's mind. I do hope this goes on general release with the album. It is the sort of information you would normally associate with a live performance but adds so much more to an album for the listener. The theme of the album is a mix of stories about births, deaths and marriages, Charlie's words, not mine and all very personal. There is a lovely dig at the culture of free downloads of music which is not only cutting, it is also a very astute observation. The title track, "Milk Roulette" is a tribute to Charlie's Dad and how he got on with milk and women. You really do need to listen to it to understand the comment. "Born yesterday" is a song for all new mothers!

This is an album for music lovers who like real life lyrics and stories. It is beautifully sung and musically superb. Charlie has the ability to wring a story out of the most unlikely topic and weave into a piece of musical magic. The final track is a piece of music written by Charlie's Mother when she was six years old. It is an instrumental played by Charlie on the piano with an overlay of her Father reading poetry which just seems a perfect way to end this lovely album. A tribute to the people that we should love and cherish the most!

Charlie is supported by a number of friends and fellow artists including her co-songwriter, multi-talented musician and very good friend Julian Littman. He also performs with Charlie on her forthcoming tour.

Thank you Charlie for this very personal and moving insight into your world. An album from a real songwriter!

Rory Stanbridge