What does it sound like?:
The female singer songwriter category must be the most over crowded in current music trends. That Beth Nielsen Chapman has been successful at it for for so many years is testament to both her voice and the quality of her songs. With imminent high profile releases by the likes of Mary Gauthier and Gretchen Peters it must be a daunting prospect to release an album that will reach its intended audience. Hearts of Glass will manage to do that if there is any justice in the World. My first introduction Beth was with the release of her album Sand and Water. I heard it before Terry Wogan started championing it with the same vigour that he used for Eva Cassidy. It was a great album but for some reason his involvement put me off to some extent – it was like he was jumping on my bandwagon with an artist I had introduced to friends and family. I didn’t need his help so I skulked off to find other artists and only fleetingly came back to Beth until now. One thing that stands out very strongly is that page has been very kind to her voice. Whereas Mary Chapin Carpenter for example has lost her higher register Beth seems to have no problem in hitting the same notes she did 20 years ago. What you don’t get on BNC albums is political songs – she focusses on Love and the human condition. The opening song Come to Mine being the exception. It is the closest approximation of a Sheryl Crow song without being a Sheryl Crow song although I understand the album was recorded at Sheryl’s studio so am sure there was some influence there. After this opening there comes a beautiful version of Old Church Hymns and Nursery Rhymes which she wrote for Waylon Jennings. Later on we get a couple of tearjerkers in the form of Child Again which chronicles the anguish of dementia and Life Holds on which latches onto the redemptive power of determination in the face of adversity.
The instrumentation is quite sparse which allows Beth’s voice and melodic strength to come to the fore.
Repeat listenings reveal hidden nuances that make this a very strong album that would grace anyones collection.
What does it all *mean*?
In her private life Beth has been through the mill. She lost her first husband to cancer and her current husband is battling the same disease. The song Epitaph to love shows her strength in adversity and how she values what she has and what she lost. There is a strong feeling throughout the album that Love has healing qualities and is what binds us all together. However she successfully steers away from mawkishness thank God.
Goes well with…
Its not dancing music thats for sure. But an early Sunday evening curled up on the sofa with a glass of wine in hand would be a perfect setting.
Release Date:
Might suit people who like…
Female singer songwriters. There are enough of them out there but Beth has been around a long time and knows what she is doing.
Saw her on the tour she did after Sand and Water. She tours quite often, perhaps a legacy of her first album, on which her backing band were Fairport Convention. Indeed, her usual musical director on tour is Maartin Allcock. (I forgave her for the Wogan endorsement as she is way better than the saccharine Cassidy.)
Touring UK in March.
Cassidy is/was saccharine but her version of Autumn Leaves is the best there is.
We discovered BNC through the US hospital drama ER.
At the end of one particularly harrowing episode they played Sand and Water. We had no idea who she was but I noted down some of the lyric and then queried it on-line after.
I had no idea Beth had a new album out. It’s not been flagged by any of the usual sources and nor has her highest profile UK fan Bob Harris, played anything of it.
I’m looking forward to hearing it.
I’m seeing her at The Stables in March, so your review is perfectly timed, Steve. Your experience with her almost mirrors mine, but not through any influence from Sir Tel. I just discovered Gretchen Peters and found myself drawn to her world of characters and towns. However, I play Sand & Water often so, based on your review, will definitely be shelling out for this.