Description

Barb Jungr's new CD features her versions of songs originally recorded by Nina Simone. It should be needless to say that although the album is intended as a tribute to her heroine, Jungr puts her own stamp on each song, and each is transmitted through her sensitivity and craft. There are no slavish reproductions either of Simone's interpretations or arrangements here, but rather shining original versions.

I believe that the sequence of seven songs from Angel of the Morning through to Hollis Brown may be the finest thing that Jungr has recorded. These are songs about lost love, unhappiness,more… yearning, wanting more and being prepared to settle for less, tears, regret, loss and death, yet the whole thing is done with such a delicate intelligence and such a depth of understanding that we begin to think that there may be something in the concept of catharsis - or perhaps we can simply sit back and enjoy wonderful songs sung by someone who knows what she is about and can show us things about the songs which we would never have thought of ourselves. The musicians here underpin and punctuate the words throughout the album with nuances and subtleties while Jenny Carr's piano weaves a filigree of silver wire around that lovely, pellucid voice.

Of the three Bob Dylan songs which appear, Just Like A Woman and The Times They Are A-changin' seem almost jaunty in these arrangements, but the Ballad Of Hollis Brown is more satisfactorily dark. Elsewhere on the album, the sleevenotes suggest that the tree in Lilac Wine grows in a graveyard. It seems a reasonable conclusion. I would go further and say that the cemetery itself is situated on the junction of Desolation Row and Lonely Street - and those of us who know Barb Jungr's Heartbreak Hotel will be aware of just what kind of place that must be.

It occurs to me, of course, that all this harping on darkness and misery is not perhaps the best way to persuade you that this would be a good thing to buy with one click. Fair enough, but if it's unremitting cheerfulness you're after you probably won't have read this far anyway. Be reassured that in the final track all the emotion which singer and band have kept under control is allowed to burst out in an expression of joy in life and living. Buy this one.

Tracks

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Info:

Category:

Music > Albums

Case Type:

CD

Release Type:

Retail

Comments:

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Cover Info:

Title:

Barb Jungr - Just Like a Woman (2008) Retail CD

Part:

Back

Dimensions:

2031 x 1783 px

Size:

504 KB

Downloads:

28 (0 today)

Uploaded:

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29/05/08 by musicworld

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