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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
Gwyneth Herbert is the latest female singer-songwriter peddling gentle easy-listening music, but from two very different angles. Bittersweet and Blue is a collection of thirteen songs, ten of which are covers, in either a jazzy folk style a la Eva Cassidy and Norah Jones; the other three are bombastic big-band swing.
The opener is a fairly straight cover of Peggy Lee's "Fever" where Herbert's voice is natural, warm and exceptionally sweet but distracted by the latter part of the signature bass riff being cut, which can't help jarring the arrangement a little. Other notable covers are well known but well chosen to suit Herbert's voice--Portishead's "Glory Box" sounding like an exceptionally polished version of the original and Neil Young's "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" sounding beautiful amidst strings and her intimate voice. Herbert's own songs, co-written with Will Rutter, lean more towards the softer folk side. The title track is a pleasant acoustic ballad, "A Little Less" is more an upbeat swing number that, to its credit, sounds timeless and "Fallen" is MOR at its finest complete with soft Rhodes accompaniment.
There is very little in Bittersweet and Blue to make Gwyneth Herbert stand out as the next big thing but her voice, whilst not that different, is genuinely very strong and very easy on the ear. --Georgina Collins
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
She's Amazing! I went to Harewood House in Leeds and saw the sensational new singer, Gwyneth Herbert performing. I was completely blown away, I felt so privileged to witness the birth of this amazing new talent. She has an incredible texture to her voice that draws you into her every word. The audience couldn't get enough of her, she sung all songs from her new album - Bittersweet & Blue. This was a mixture of Jazz Standards (such as Fever and Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye), some pop songs (remember the Portishead track Glory Box? She does a mind blowing rendition of it amongst others) and a few of her own songs, Bittersweet & Blue is a beautiful song, I can't get over how talented this girl is!
If you think Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy & Diana Krall are ok, you will LOVE Gwyneth Herbert. I can't wait for this album to become available.
If you think Norah Jones, Eva Cassidy & Diana Krall are ok, you will LOVE Gwyneth Herbert. I can't wait for this album to become available.
17 of 18 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Have been waiting for a widely distributed Gwyneth CD for ages...and at last here it is. Having been lucky enough to have seen her live at a Durham University ball, i was bowled over by her powerful but sultry vocals. The new CD has become a favourite among friends and family and there are many requests for Xmas pressies, her take on Glory Box is just astounding... a truly meaningful song that almost reduces me to tears. WELL DONE!!! If you haven't bought this album by now, you really should!!!!
20 of 23 people found the following review helpful
By Tom Langton
Format:Audio CD
I was lucky enough to catch Gwyneth at Ronnie Scott's last night. What a voice! She had the whole room spellbound. And her band were amazing. One minute she's belting out a standard - her version of It's Alright With Me was really funky - the next she's melting your heart with an incredibly tender ballad. What talent.
Her secret weapon must be her own songs. I heard "Bittersweet and Blue" and "Fallen" and both were first class - beautiful melodies and fantastic lyrics. Catch her while you can!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Bittersweet and Blus
I have yet to receive this cd, had an email to say it would be despatched on such and such a day, then two days later received one to say it was out of stock and did i want to... Read more
Published 21 months ago by G Viveiros
5.0 out of 5 stars
US
Not on itunes, Yahoo, or Amazon. I can't find her anywhere in the US. This is crazy!!! Why doesn't she sell in the US?
Published on 8 Nov 2010 by Kip
2.0 out of 5 stars
From these simple beginnings....
Saw Gwyneth live and wanted to hear her first album - rather conventional start. She has come along way from this.
Published on 11 Sep 2009 by J. Stephenson
1.0 out of 5 stars
Jazz for jazz haters!
Can't sing, is out of tune, has no concept of what a good song is or how to present one, doesn't listen to jazz, doesn't like jazz, and was dropped from her record label! Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2007 by Where's my jazz
3.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointing choice of material
Gorgeous, strong voice. The title track and funky version of Crowded House's Into Temptation excellent. The rest? Heard it all before. Read more
Published on 24 Feb 2007 by Blizzid Inc.
5.0 out of 5 stars
i see you now, in faded corduroy...
firstly i think corduroy is the hardest word to spell ever!!!! but its worth it as this is the central word in the eponymous track - bittersweet and blue. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2005 by Mr. J. Claridge
2.0 out of 5 stars
Gwyneth's latest dissapoints
After I enjoyed so much Gwyneth Herberts previous disc 'First Songs' in colaberation with Will Rutter, Bittersweet and Blue comes as a huge dissapointment. Read more
Published on 16 Oct 2004 by Mr. C. Hague
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