Irene Serra
– vocals; Richard Sadler – double bass; Chris Nickolls - drums; John Crawford – piano.
(Review
by Debra M.)
‘Too’, the
second album from Irene Serra’s quartet, is a collection of 8 original songs, with
well-penned lyrics largely musing on various aspects of relationships. Serra’s warm, bluesy & delicate voice remains to
the fore throughout, with the relatively
restrained John Crawford on piano supplementing with riffs & chords in the
background.
In contrast, Richard Sadler’s double bass gives melodic counterpoint, and is particularly effective in the second track ‘Falling Stars’, where he also plays one of the few solos on the album. The melancholic ‘Tears of a Clown’ stands out, with delicate and spacious backing from the trio. In ‘Zion’, Chris Nickolls grooves a rhythmic dynamism, which may be why it has been selected as a single release. Crawford finally lets loose in the last track ‘Light and Shade’, allowing his colleagues on drums & bass to develop the dynamic of the trio. Maybe the limited use of improvisation reflects the quartet’s ‘development of their crossover sound’, but some of these tunes may benefit from a little more musical exploration, and would be more compelling as a consequence.
In contrast, Richard Sadler’s double bass gives melodic counterpoint, and is particularly effective in the second track ‘Falling Stars’, where he also plays one of the few solos on the album. The melancholic ‘Tears of a Clown’ stands out, with delicate and spacious backing from the trio. In ‘Zion’, Chris Nickolls grooves a rhythmic dynamism, which may be why it has been selected as a single release. Crawford finally lets loose in the last track ‘Light and Shade’, allowing his colleagues on drums & bass to develop the dynamic of the trio. Maybe the limited use of improvisation reflects the quartet’s ‘development of their crossover sound’, but some of these tunes may benefit from a little more musical exploration, and would be more compelling as a consequence.
Debra M.
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