Reviewed by Chris Sharp

Whilst you may not have heard much of Welsh born, Tyne and Wear dwelling Beccy Owen before, this is in fact her second album; the first 'The Sweetest Of Tales From The Bitterest Edge' was released in 2002, to critical acclaim and inclusion on the BBC Radio 2 playlists. This album opens with the upbeat "Summersong" with meandering piano introduction and choir backing just at the right moments, not intruding but highlighting the smoothness and clarity of Beccy's heartfelt vocals. Moving on, slipping on the smoking jacket, sophisticated jazz sounds reminiscent of Nina Simone follow in "Sighs" with muted trumpet sounds from one of the many talented musicians scattered liberally throughout the album. The remaining tracks will take you on a musical journey of lyrical poetry through moments of pop, rock and gentle ballads, finally ending with the gorgeous (and all too short!) "Gliss", with its hauntingly chromatic strings. Believe it or not all this isn't really to my tastes, but 'The Singer Kicks' offers something for everyone - give it a listen and you'll find it hard to deny the quality of the melodies, vocals, instrumentation, arrangements and production.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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