Search - Brenda Freed :: Smilin Inside

Like poise and passion? Musicianship?? Then get this now.

Mr Benson | UK | 10/10/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the kind of authentic music that can so easily be lost amidst the desperate excitement of 30-somethings striving to retain their wishfully misspent youth as they trawl through dump-bins of rereleases. Brenda Freed is above all that. She disdains anything showy, anything dishonest, in favour of the emotion at the heart of her songs which is conveyed with a deeply touching directness: listen to 'In the Nest of Our Hearts' if you want to be convinced. Not that all the songs are that intense; there are also wit and humour here, an occasional whimsy that might remind you of Dan Hicks. There might be many other echoes here, as Freed displays an eclectic array of influences: you can hear jazz, folk, blues, torch song, hints of experimental keyboards; but here, as with the best music, those kinds of definitions are sterile and pedantic. What is really here is an exceptional voice that is lazy yet assured, cool yet sexy - "my mind is dirty but my hands are clean" as she teasingly sings - playful yet involved. She's matched with a set of musicians who are so tight yet unobtrusive: there is no self-consciously idle virtuosity here; just a shared love of song, of music. Give yourself a break and have a treat: forget the rereleases, dim the lights, settle down with a glass of good wine, and give a serious listen to a wholly enjoyable and impressive cd."