OK, let's get this straight. Right here, right now. No messing.
This is one of the best albums you will be likely to hear this year.
(.....or next year, or in the coming decade, come to that).
'My One and Only Thrill' is the real deal.
Universal/Verve have thrown a whole lot of moolah at this production and
Ms Gardot hasn't wasted a cent. Gold begets gold here in every way.
As if this brave young woman's voice were not enough, Mr Klein's
loving and masterful production, Mr Prendergast's exquisite musical
direction and Mr Mendoza's phenomenal string arrangements raise
the twelve songs in this collection to heights rarely achievable in any
composer/performer's career.
The voice. Oh my, my, what a voice we have on show here!
Warm, dark, expressive, playful. An utterly gorgeous instrument.
The writing is steadfastly and consistently inspired. Many of these songs
could have been written at any time during the past half-century but
never for a moment are they anachronistic or derivative.
They burst into our world fresh and fully formed, crammed with subtle
and elusive musical ideas.
The gentle gospel soul of 'Who Will Comfort Me' and the sublime slow
blues of 'Your Heart Is As Black As Night' display a completely assured
grasp of both genres.
'Our Love Is Easy' is a blissful threnody, brimful of whistful passion.
'My One and Only Thrill' is a fragile masterwork whose heartrending melody
and haunting orchestration could not fail to bring hope and affirmation
to anyone who has ever had even the smallest experience of true love.
The quirky lilting latin rhythm of 'Les Etoiles', with its' delightful
vocal extemporisations, is a thing of pure joy.
So too Ms Gardot's idiosyncratic take on 'Somewhere Over The Rainbow'
which successfully shines a bright new light on an old warhorse.
For one who stumbled upon her accidently this album is a revelation.
I dare you, too, not to be bewitched.
Essential.