ALBUM REVIEW: Fiona Bevan
- Posted on March 26, 2007 9:33 AM
- 0 comments
IN THE SWIMMING POOL by Fiona Bevan
Available on iTunes and www.myspace.com/fionabevan
Review by Peter Coulston
As promised in my recent venue of the week review of the Green Room in Camden (don’t say you haven’t read it!), here is the lowdown on Fiona’s excellent EP. She only did one song from this EP on Wednesday, so there is another in the pipeline to look forward to. I did mention in my review that there is a lot of summer in Fiona’s work, and it really comes out in this little gem. It really hits the spot during this awful weather and makes us dream of beaches and holidays and nice times. Some songwriters delight in giving their creations titles that appear to have nothing to do with the ensuing lyrics, which is fine if the song is good. Fiona is not of this school; her titles speak for themselves and her lyrics move effectively between rough and smooth, never leaving us in doubt as to the meaning of the song. As a songwriter, she is in a class of her own.
Fiona could never be accused of employing an army of helpers on this record. She is responsible for guitars, strings, glockenspiel, and incredible vocals while Andy Fell takes care of percussion, mandolin, mixing, engineering, mastering and artwork. The Home Office and the NHS could both take lessons on effective use of resources from these guys. The title track is the opener and employs some impressive strings with a jazzy, almost waltz-like structure and a rocky hook. “Cigarettes and Amaretto” oozes summer and love lost and found, with a soft jazz guitar to top it off. “Romeo” is about a guy who is everything but, as the biting lyrics effectively convey. Emphasised by a simple melody enhanced by strings and glockenspiel, it’s a bit “You’re So Vain” at the Montreux Jazz Festival. This track is currently the “hot track” on Pulse Rated Radio
“Everyone’s at Work” is a happy little song about work and fun and sun and things and which of these we would rather do. No contest, really. “The Wrong Boy” again speaks for itself and is darker like an old folk song with glockenspiel and mandolin used to fine effect. You can hear this track on Small Fish Online Radio. “The Beach” closes the EP and takes us right there with broad images of sunshine, acoustic guitars and love. Throughout this EP, Fiona’s emotive vocals bring such life to the lyrics that they must be heard to be fully appreciated. If you enjoy beautifully crafted, jazz influenced songs, well performed and simply but effectively produced, this EP is for you. If nothing else, it will boost your spirits until summer comes, assuming we haven’t had it already.
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