published: 22 /
7 /
2007
Label:
Loud Mouth Music
Format: CD
Impressive and delightful debut album from Cambridge-born singer-songwriter Helen J. Hicks who has been writing songs since she was a child
Review
This debut solo album from former Cambridge Choral Scholar Helen J. Hicks who has fronted the band HoneyRiders, won Best Newcomer at the 2005 Marlborough Jazz Festival and been championed by Radio 2 is, as could be expected, a vocal delight.
Having been compared to almost every female singer/songwriter from Carole King through Joni Mitchell taking in Tanita Tikaram along the way expectations are obviously high when this solo debut is your introduction to the talents of this young songwriter and, for once, here is a singer who not only deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as any of the major female singer/songwriters but is actually, say it quietly, better than most.
Having sung from the age of three, played piano at the age of six and guitar from the age of eight Hicks started writing songs at the age of ten. So it shouldn’t be any great surprise that apart from obviously being able to sing that Hicks has also honed her song writing talents. But it does come as a surprise as this album is, quite simply, like no other.
Sailing very close to the mainstream at times it does make one wonder if this collection of twelve songs and two spoken word pieces would be a little too nice on repeated plays but, strangely, the two most romantic, some might say overly sentimental, songs on this album are also two of the most affecting and lovely songs I’ve heard all year. For the most part that’s down to the talent Hicks has of writing melodies that once heard are never forgotten. It’s as simple as that. And I can’t stop playing them. On one of those songs, ‘I Miss You’, Hicks turns in what might just be her best vocal on the whole album. Dripping with emotion and with the emptiness of feeling alone seeping through every word Hicks, in a voice than sounds so English, can’t fail to touch even the hardest heart. If you’re in that place where the one you love isn’t where you are just now get this song to them and by the time the songs reaches its end they’ll be on that train or plane. It’s simply stunning.
Before we say any more about the vocals special mention should also be made about the second of those romantic songs, ‘I Love You More’, again a melody which matches the beauty in her lyrics that again are more than merely touching. When Hicks sweetly weaves in and out of the melody almost whispering the words “I love you, I love you” over and over again you believe her and with those weeping violins and superb backing vocals it’s obvious that is what the repeat button on the CD player was made for.
With all those major female vocalists being mentioned in reviews and press releases it’s good to be able to say that Hicks sounds like none of them. In fact it is difficult to make any comparisons to Hicks vocally. It’s not the kind of voice that makes you think “Wow” the first time you hear her. Hicks just has a good, solid singing style. More than good, actually, Hicks can sing, really sing. Thankfully she doesn’t resort to the vocal gymnastics that many female singers use these days to get attention. She doesn’t have to. Finally we have someone who can actually sing without the need for dressing her vocals up.
It’s much the same when trying to ‘pigeon-hole’ the type of music Hicks makes. Every genre from folk to bluegrass to jazz has been bandied about. While there are traces of all of those in the songs on this album it would be fairer to say that Hicks has created a sound of her own. It’s a kind of grown-up pop music that takes in elements of other genres; on this showing she has created a sound of her own, one that no other female singer/songwriter is coming close to matching.
The single, ‘Be Myself’ is by no means the best song on this album. For starters try any of the above mentioned songs or even ‘Inspiration’ then just try to stop yourself buying the album.
This album is a major find and proves that Hicks is a major vocalist, lyricist and an artist who is going to appeal to a very wide audience.
Track Listing:-
1
All My Days
2
Clear
3
Be Myself
4
I Love You More
5
Not Going Away
6
Leafing
7
I Miss You
8
Perfect On Paper
9
Broken
10
Lovelight
11
Inspiration
12
Lift Me High
13
Flood
14
Another Earth