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Product details
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Track Listings
| 1. Lay You Down |
| 2. Whisper Low |
| 3. The Woman Meets the Wiseman |
| 4. Midnight Oil |
| 5. Little Girl |
| 6. The Morning After |
| 7. Slow Down, Brother |
| 8. That's The Kind Of Man |
| 9. In The Meantime |
| 10. Sweet Thing |
| 11. Turn It Off |
Product Description
Review
Feted as a promising English jazz singer for her Ian Shaw-produced debut and its major label follow-up Bittersweet And Blue, it's a hop, skip and long jump to reach the folk pop of Between Me And The Wardrobe. For one thing, all eleven songs on Gwyneth Herbert's new record are self-penned, where previously she was intent on working as an interpreter of others' work. As a result, stories are very much to the fore, in fact many of these songs are compacted narrative jewels. Herbert conjures and then explores characters and situations that are sketched with fine strokes comprised as much of vocal intonation as adjectives and nouns.
Opening song, "Lay You Down", is so clear-voiced and cleanly arranged it's like a breath of cool mountain air; percussive brushes accompanied by lithe bass. 'Whisper Low' delights in the hiss and sigh of Herbert's plosive vowels etched lightly with acoustic guitar and piano. Beginning as gently affecting, it builds to a climax of 'don't knows' before ending with a twinkle.
'The Woman Meets The Wiseman' ventures into playful territories, all crash and roar, it's over much too quickly at just a hair's breadth over two minutes. 'In The Meantime' takes my vote for the album's most special song. It's almost breathtakingly intimate: just Herbert's closely-recorded voice, double bass and a single struck note ringing in the near silence.
The music is oak-like, rich and weathered. It makes me think of walking through woodland, all shadows and sudden shafts of warming sunlight. Brit jazz man Seb Rochford, best known as the strikingly hirsute drummer for Polar Bear, Fulborn Taversham and Acoustic Ladyland, is responsible for a production that's stripped-down, but full of unexpected and highly rewarding details. Recommended. --Colin Buttimer
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I note the polarised earlier reviews on Gwn's latest album. I am in the camp of the reviewer who saw her perform the latest songs live. I had that luxury last night in Lichfield and can only say to the owner of Bittersweet and Blue go and see her, then play the disc again, hopefully you will experience that clicking in. This is not a halo review on the back of the concert as I have played the disc today,(including non performed tracks), and find it exceptional. A comment was also made in a review about gimmicky production. Again I find it outstanding which considering Seb Rochford was at the helm is not surprising.
I have all 3 of Gwyn's albums and thoroughly enjoy them all, but this last one is special as it has greater songwriting input from her and produces some very special originals. For poignancy and sparse arrangements try Midnight Oil or In The Meantime. For more jaunty fare
with intriguing rhythms try The Woman Meets The Wiseman or The Morning After. In truth it's all very special, in fact,(and bearing in mind my wife describes me as a compulsive purchaser - fair comment), it's a clear contender for my album of the year.
I have to agree comparing this album with Stacey Kent is incorrect. I have 4 of her excellent albums, and in covering the standards she definitely is at or near the top of the tree. However, Gwyn is different and we should treasure the fact that at 25 she has produced 3 outstanding albums with great variety. This last one though is special as it is a true original. Quite frankly we should be grateful we have her, as although I am someone with very wide tastes, I have to say she is unique. I can't think of a better complement to her talent.
If you try to reconcile the mixed reviews maybe the tiebreaker should be do you think Blue Note would have signed her up if they didn't see something special ? Buy but also go and see -you won't regret it.
I have all 3 of Gwyn's albums and thoroughly enjoy them all, but this last one is special as it has greater songwriting input from her and produces some very special originals. For poignancy and sparse arrangements try Midnight Oil or In The Meantime. For more jaunty fare
with intriguing rhythms try The Woman Meets The Wiseman or The Morning After. In truth it's all very special, in fact,(and bearing in mind my wife describes me as a compulsive purchaser - fair comment), it's a clear contender for my album of the year.
I have to agree comparing this album with Stacey Kent is incorrect. I have 4 of her excellent albums, and in covering the standards she definitely is at or near the top of the tree. However, Gwyn is different and we should treasure the fact that at 25 she has produced 3 outstanding albums with great variety. This last one though is special as it is a true original. Quite frankly we should be grateful we have her, as although I am someone with very wide tastes, I have to say she is unique. I can't think of a better complement to her talent.
If you try to reconcile the mixed reviews maybe the tiebreaker should be do you think Blue Note would have signed her up if they didn't see something special ? Buy but also go and see -you won't regret it.
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Some of the positive reviews below have put the case for this album very eloquently so I'd just like to take issue with some points in the negative reviews below.
There are truly some bizarre comments in some of the less than favourable reviews below. For the life of me I can't hear anything gimmicky about the production (or arrangements) on this album -it seems quite organic to me. There's nothing on here to frighten the horses whatsoever.
Also, you can't compare this to "Breakfast On The Morning Tram" where Stacey Kent abandons the Great American Songbook and replaces it with songs that sound like they come from the Great American Songbook. Breakfast On The Morning Tram is an excellent album but it's a bit cloying in places and sometimes the lyrics (whilst very polished) seem like a bit of an academic exercise whereas the lyrics here feel lived.
Maybe Gwyneth sounds like she's more influenced by Joni Mitchell than anyone else but that's not a heinous crime.
Cutting to the chase, the songs on this album are excellent, atmospheric (and melodic), and are presented perfectly.
There are truly some bizarre comments in some of the less than favourable reviews below. For the life of me I can't hear anything gimmicky about the production (or arrangements) on this album -it seems quite organic to me. There's nothing on here to frighten the horses whatsoever.
Also, you can't compare this to "Breakfast On The Morning Tram" where Stacey Kent abandons the Great American Songbook and replaces it with songs that sound like they come from the Great American Songbook. Breakfast On The Morning Tram is an excellent album but it's a bit cloying in places and sometimes the lyrics (whilst very polished) seem like a bit of an academic exercise whereas the lyrics here feel lived.
Maybe Gwyneth sounds like she's more influenced by Joni Mitchell than anyone else but that's not a heinous crime.
Cutting to the chase, the songs on this album are excellent, atmospheric (and melodic), and are presented perfectly.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I saw Gwyneth live at Bristol's Colston Hall, a gig that demonstrated her superb voice in cosy, warm surroundings. The album is a fine reminder of her live performance, the highlight of which was Midnight Oil sung amongst the audience without a microphone. The studio recordings can never capture such a magic moment, but they do provide a greater clarity of diction which helps the listener appreciate Gwyneth's lyrics to the full. Buy this album and you'll find yourself recommending it to friends in no time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Beautifully eloquent.
I have had the pleasure of seeing Gwyneth live twice at the Stables. She is fantastic live and I would encourage anyone to go and see her if they have the chance. Read more
Published on 3 Jun 2008 by A. Whitehead
unique singer-songwriter record
A fresh, moving, witty selection of material, immediately striking and accessible, but with layers of musical detail and lyrical interest that repay repeated listening. Read more
Published on 8 May 2008 by C. Vaughan
Between You, Me and the Bedpost
This CD seems to me to be an exceptional achievement in the sphere of recorded niceness and exudes some, but not all, of the charm exuded by Gwyneth Herbert in real life. Read more
Published on 15 April 2008 by Fred Basset
between me and the wardrobe
How to begin,Gwyneth Hebert is by far one of the best singers to emerge,i am totally shocked that she is not a huge star by now. Read more
Published on 24 Nov 2007 by Mr. L. Morgans
Whats gone wrong
I totally agree with the last review, a real let down after her earlier records. Dull songs, with gimmicky production in a vain attempt to generate some interest. Read more
Published on 21 Oct 2007 by D. Allen
Big Disappointment
Having loved Bittersweet and Blue, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Gwyneth Herbert's latest album - but what a disappointment! Read more
Published on 21 Sep 2007 by Mr. Neil Booth
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