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Album Review
by SashaS
27-10-2001
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| 'Introducing Oliver Darley' |
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Oliver Darley: 'Introducing'
(EastWest)
Oliver Darley’s soulsful versions recall days when it was sweet music to dance to/fall in love by
Sweet soul music… There is plenty of nu-soul around but the Motown and Stax days appear to be firmly entered in the history books; there are occasional reminders, such as the recent Playgroup’s eponymous debut album, or Nash… We now get Oliver Darley, a blue-eyed kid with a soulful voice, whose ‘Introducing’ is a huge statement for mind, body and soul.
This album is a homage to the yesterdays, the spirit of the lost times but it is not stuck there. These 13 songs are modern interpretations without taking too many liberties with re-arranging the legendary tunes, rather treating all with due respect. The parade starts in a controlled, almost restrained manner, easing us in gently with cuts like ‘I Wish It Would Rain’ and ‘Til I Can’t Take It Anymore’…
‘Harlem’ glides in with its full-orchestra backing but it is after ‘Sixteen Tons’ (with Jools Holland & His Rhythm & Blues Orchestra) that things definitely shift a gear. ‘People Get Ready’ takes us into the classics-land and Darley handles them supremely. ‘Eloise’ encourages you to fall in love, with somebody and the song.
‘It’s A Man’s, Man’s, Man’s World’ intro’s in a James Bond-theme style before reminding us of the prime James Brown days; ‘If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time’ funks up a notch with a killer version of Roberta Flack’s ‘The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ bringing the curtain down on this soul-show of one. For a good measure there is a bonus track delivered acapella and if that doesn’t convince you he is a great vocalist, then you are beyond musical redemption.
Personally, I find soundtracks, live and covers-albums a cheap way of raking in dosh for music that is either functional (in some other media) or a way to fulfil a contract/take a breathers from the grind or simply recycling of the already cashed-in… But this is something else, this is labour of love, delivered by a good-looking West End veteran. Unfortunate then that this is issued too close to the Robbie Williams’s ‘Croon When You Are Crappy’ (or sumffink) that will overshadow this fine collection sung with such passionate authority.
All Darley’s songs were recorded ‘live’ in studio, one take (Frank Sinatra’s legendary standard) and no techno-surgery but one has to wonder how many takes/post-production did Robb-ster need? I know which album will be travelling in my car’s CD-changer.
8.6/10
SashaS
27-10-2001
Oliver Darley’s album ‘Introducing’ is issued 29 October 2001 on EastWest
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