Elly Roberts reviews
Rowetta: Rowetta
Distributed by
Gut Records
- Cat.no: GUTCD50
- Released: October 2005
- Rating: 8/10
Some critics and music fans might snub this album on the grounds of Rowetta's X-Factor connection from 2004.
Also, establishing some kind of longevity credibility is a problem for most
of the contestants – few if any succeed. My gut feeling is different about
Rowetta. The huge voice, a favourite of Simon Cowell’s amazingly only managed
fourth place.
She entered the competition with a strong reputation as a vocalist with the
Happy Mondays, Inner City et al. Now after 18 years of being in the studio
environment, she gets her chance to showcase her talents. It would have been
too easy to follow the predictable trashy pop path, but Rowetta has carefully
planned her route.
With a truly eclectic tracklisting, every song is perfectly suited to her
husky soulful larynx – she’s capable of giving Alison Moyet a run for her
money any day. Along with some pretty impressive covers which make up most
of the collection, she’s even tried her hand at self-penned tracks Fly,
Thunder and Lightning and Pure and Faithful.
When I saw the tracks, my first impression was that she’s perfect for musicals,
reinforced by outstanding workings of Camelot’s If Ever I Would Leave You
and her disco attempt at the Dreamgirls’ musical anthem And I’m Telling You,
which was a huge hit for Jennifer Holliday in 1982. As energetic as this
version is, I’d have preferred an original ballad cover.
Every track is tackled with supreme confidence, and she also proves how
malleable and adaptable she is.
Big ballads - It Should Have Been Me, big band sounds on a subtle
opener Hello Detroit, and even a superb self-penned Northern Soul gem
in Thunder and Lightning make this a very impressive debut.
Her destiny is surely in musicals, where she’d be as a big a name as the voice.
Weblinks:
Rowetta.com /
Gut Records.com
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
