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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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‘Voice of the Beehive’ returns….theme thing. Girls get your nail varnish out. Guys get your winkle –pickers on and forget sad Amy. Get stuck into the real thing The High Priestess of Hairspray or Neasden Queen Of Soul – Mari Wilson – who bounces back with 10 sparkly retro-infused pop classics. With a title like Emotional Glamour, you’d expect it to be all fur and no knickers. Not so. The airwaves have been deprived of Wilson’s magical touch of pop for too long. This album evolved from her stage concept show The Love Thing currently being developed. As always, songs are a combination of melody, infectiousness, and emotional strain co-written with long-time creative side-kick Adrian York. Long before Winehouse and Allen found their 60s mojo, Wilson was embellishing the halcyon days of universal pop. Things ain’t changed much, though the pair have masterfully brought 21st century twists to their writing. Both have a strong and genuine feel for the period, reflected in their production skills and finely honed ears.
Amongst a bit of melancholy, there are some whopping dollops of joy which begins with a huge nod to Phil Spector-ish styled groove Have You Got What It Takes. Your feet are tapping the beat before you know it, and the ‘doo woo’s’ set you singing too to 60s dance ‘The Swim’. There’s a similar dance beat to The It Girl, a song that refers to a certain model cum pop wannabe. The Loneliest Road could be an Abba song, it isn’t of course, though you can’t help feeling hit musical Mama Mia’s had some influence, nevertheless it’s a great song. Killing Time is the tale of a suspicious wife, who spots an unfamiliar number on the phone bill, while waiting for her squeeze to return her futile endless calls. Then the sunny saccharine pop returns with harmony fuelled Hits And Misses, aided by plenty of La La La’s. The twist I mentioned earlier is found on a virtually discofied Only Human, which if remixed, could be a monster, though it’s great as it is, whereas Movin’ In is a tender ballad with a Spector production once more. If you’re looking for a power ballad, then look no further than more ‘wall of sound’ stylings a la Ronettes – Me And My Baby. Right For You has shades of Latino swings and mood with some dazzlingly sharp production by Wilson and York. If any tracks sums the direct 60s influence of this album is the whopping string and brass arrangement of the (1947) hit by Cuban Osvaldo Farres, Quizas, Quizas, Quizas – Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps to you and I, with Wilson bringing it bang up to date. If you’re going to make a ‘comeback’, this is the way to do it. File under: Sumptuously delicious.
Weblinks: mariwilson.co.uk / myspace/com.mariwilson
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.
