| This Week's Highlights |
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analysis w/e 14.5.11 |
DVDs out 9.5.11 |
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@ DVDfever Youtube |
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May 11 2011 
DVDfever co uk
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Stylistically, Brooklyn native Nell Bryden doesn’t want to be pigeon-holed. In a recent breakfast show she admitted to preferring to sing whatever suits her voice. That’s good news. This stylish and soulful singer straddles early jazz, country, gospel and blues, her influences, with consummate ease. So there’s plenty to get your teeth into. The once poor waitress has come on leaps and bounds in recent years since she flogged a painting in her loft, for 300k. This money effectively helped launch her career. The thing that hits you above all else is her fabulous voice which she uses to great effect. Check the video clip on myspace link below to hear singing What Does It Take live on Balcony TV in Dublin. The buxom blonde originally released What Does It Take? in late 2008, but this version has been remixed and includes two new songs.
She may be a NY resident but her soul is steeped firmly in the Americana tradition, and she’s keen to introduce us to her finely honed skills with a flourishing rockabilly title track, belting out a great performance. For Not Like Loving You she veers towards a southern country-gospel ballad handled with great sensitivity unleashing her soulful tubes with great skill, backed by a strident band providing the perfect backdrop. Where The Pavement Ends is another rockabilly sojourn with more dynamics retaining the genre’s pulsating thrusts. Her husky tone is probably best heard on yet another gospel -infused Helen’s Requiem, though I feel the song could have been better explored for a bigger impact, as she’s doesn’t unleash a big enough punch. Goodbye is far to tame for my tastes considering the heart-wrenching lyrics. It’s hoedown time on perky Only Life I Know, one to get yer boots on and get kicking the dust, with follower Second Time Around being a pulsating rockabilly stomp keeping the sweat ducts active. She hits her peak with the gorgeous semi-ballad Meridian pushing the country button to ten. Switching code, jolly jazz- country Tonight shows this gal knows her stuff giving a polished, if cabaret styled, delivery. A great single for BBC Radio 2 listeners, and one to crack the UK / European market. The verdict: A class act.
Weblinks: nellbryden.com / myspace.com/nellbryden (audio clips and videos)
The full list of tracks included are :
As of April 2009, Blu-rays and DVDs reviewed by the editor are watched on a Panasonic TH-37PX80B 37" Plasma TV with a Sony BDP-1500 Blu-ray player and played through a Yamaha DSP-AX820 amplifier. PC games reviewed by the editor are on:
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Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
