This is both a first public airing of a new musical team with plenty of previous form: the voice of Sarah Moule, the music of her husband, Simon Wallace and the bitter-sweet lyrics of the wily old bird, Fran Landesman. For a new collection of songs, the results are impressive to say the least. Close your eyes and you could be in a piano bar in LA, sometime in the early 60s, but the words are still sharp enough to bite in the new century.
Moule's interpretation is subtle but intelligent and humorous, her voice fresh and clear as a mountain stream. Moule comes across effectively on the slower love songs, but electrifies on the bluesier up-tempo number. A singer who knows how to send a shudder down your spine.
The music is cool as the opening track suggests, gently chilling out with sax, guitar and piano licks under creamy and insistent melodic lines. Never aggressive, but always there to add weight to the lyrics. Support from the likes of Iain Bellamy and Jim Mullen makes this a smooth and well-oiled sound.
Listen out for the gorgeous Cool to be Cool, the catchy Feet do your Stuff, and finger-clicking numbers like Some Boys and the Usual Suspects. Excellent.