US version includes three bonus tracks, 'The End', 'Your Face' and 'Love You'. Beloved One is impossibly enchanting, a veritable forest of natural beauty. Lou Rhodes is perhaps best known for being a crucial member of Lamb... more » and Beloved One is her debut solo album, released on Infinite Bloom. Rhodes presents a collection of alternative folk with accents of bluesy jazz in the gritty, sweeping perfection of her vocals. The production is immaculate, really drawing out the beauty of Rhodes' voice. At times Beloved One is quite elemental, being sparse in fragments, while in other parts it contains a wonderful harmony of exquisite layer. Cooking Vinyl. 2007.« less
US version includes three bonus tracks, 'The End', 'Your Face' and 'Love You'. Beloved One is impossibly enchanting, a veritable forest of natural beauty. Lou Rhodes is perhaps best known for being a crucial member of Lamb and Beloved One is her debut solo album, released on Infinite Bloom. Rhodes presents a collection of alternative folk with accents of bluesy jazz in the gritty, sweeping perfection of her vocals. The production is immaculate, really drawing out the beauty of Rhodes' voice. At times Beloved One is quite elemental, being sparse in fragments, while in other parts it contains a wonderful harmony of exquisite layer. Cooking Vinyl. 2007.
CD Reviews
An artist blooming with talent in her solo debut
Sakis | San Diego, originally Greece | 05/10/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lou Rhodes was part of a brilliant electronic band called Lamb. The band disbanded and this is her own work, her solo debut. There are no techno experimentations here, no drum n'bass, just mature, life-affirming songs,expressed from the heart and played mostly with guitars, sometimes there's an exotic fluite, some violin, a bit of a piano...
I can't help but be enveloped, cocooned if i may say with warmth, when i listen to this CD. From the carefully crafted artwork of the album to the last song, this album just leaves me be in peace. I can't help but be embraced by these tunes -the embracing cover is quite indicative of the intimacy that permeates this album. It is spiritual, soft, melodic, soothing and well crafted, clearly the product of soul searching. You can hear all the acoustic instruments well, you can hear the whispery smokey vocals and just enjoy this album from beginning to end.
There's an evident reflective sensitivity to some of the songs that i'm glad i discovered and enjoy on every listen. A trully wonderful solo debut by a singer i've always admired."
Hope this album gets U.S. release
Patrick E. Perret | New Orleans, LA ( U.S.A.) | 06/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lou Rhodes creates a tender album that speaks to a maturing audience, if you connect to Nick Drake or early Joni Mitchell or Damien Rice you will find this album to be a beautiful and personal journey. Well worth the import price, just pure and from the soul and what a beautiful soul. Patrick, New Orleans"
Stunning debut from Lou
J. Gordon | CT United States | 09/26/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lou Rhodes fulfilled all my expectations for her with her solo debut...absolutely stunning, rich, gorgeous vocals, well constructed songs, an album that makes me hit repeat and listen to both songs in repetition as well as playing the entire album again back to back (which i almost never do).
truly a gem :)"
Mesmerizing
R. Karemaker | The Hague | 07/03/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lou Rhodes separated from Lamb: and the result is for the better. Her voice and music are now in complete harmony, her voice is even more mesmerizing, the music will put your mind at ease when you listen to it (no more extremly complicated rhythms that can make you feel uneasy). Lots of Irish influences. Stunningly beautiful.
Ruben Karemaker, The Hague"
Infinite bloom ~
minc | USA | 04/28/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Lou has been 1 of my top artists all-time, over 10 yrs now, since the start of lamb. 'Beloved One' is yet another brilliant extension of her illustrious musical career; + it's the 1st release off of her self-created label 'infinite bloom' ! Gorgeous in EVERY way.. it will be a beautiful add to your CD collection !
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1