Melody
Gardot – Currency Of Man (Decca)
LP
/ CD / DL
Out
Now
8
/ 10
American
jazz, acoustic, blues singer-songwriter release her fourth album.
For
the uninitiated, a potted history of Melody Gardot reads – born 1985 in New
Jersey, descended from Polish immigrants and raised by her grandparents. Begins music lessons at the age of 9 and is
playing Duke Ellington and Mamas & Papas songs in Philadelphia bars by
16. Studies fashion at the Community
College of Philadelphia. Fast forward to
2003 when she is hit by a motorist whilst riding her bicycle leaving her
bed-bound for almost a year with head, spinal and pelvic injuries. Neural injuries leave her sensitive to light
and sound. Learns to play guitar in
hospital.
In
2012 she appeared on Later With Jools Holland and performed Baby I’m A Fool
from her second album My One And Only Thrill which went on to sell one and a
half million copies. A quite amazing
performance and a stunningly delicate song displaying the enormous talent that
met with huge success worldwide.
The
smoky jazz club sound of her first two albums has now moved, via the tropical
sounds of 2012s The Absence, to a retro-soul and funk affair in Currency Of
Man. Produced by legendary Grammy Award
winner Larry Klein who has also worked with the likes of Joni Mitchell and
Herbie Hancock, the album is polished and the overall sound quality is superb.
Amidst
its Hammond organ displays, gospel choruses and perfect orchestration are
lyrics for the modern day depicting images of the helpless, homeless and hungry
which provides a harsh background for some of the livelier backing. What is slightly curious is the attempt to
add field recordings of voices and radio static. Curious because as well as using much analog equipment
over digital the authenticity it somewhat lost in the perfect production. A contradiction of sorts, but both Klein and
Gardot will know their audience well, and in turn know what works best for the
masses.
It
is the masses that will inevitably follow Currency Of Man. The mature music fan will devour the new
albums in their droves, and if they don’t then we must surely question the
entertainment world that we live in. The
musical style of the 60s and 70s are represented well on tracks like the superb
Preacher Man, a future single and a commentary on the murder of black teenager
Emmett Till in the 1950s. His death
hailed a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement and the accompanying video
is haunting and poignant with a backing choir made of Facebook auditionees.
About
the writing of the album, Gardot explains: “There was no censorship on
the stories. It’s a commentary. It’s not about love, it’s not about desire,
it’s not about fantasy… It’s about life, and the people living it - right now”,
and the social commentary would seem to confirm that as the goal of love, peace
and tolerance continues through our disordered world.
Coupled
with the Debussy styled orchestration from arranger Clément Ducol, and the horn
sections from Jerry Hey tracks like She Don’t Know brim with life. The instant funkiness of recent single Shame
To You is infectious and likeable to say the least, and odd forays into Blues
are well timed and well executed.
As
a criticism, the album is often just a little too polished, slightly too good
and sometimes in need of a little rawness.
As a compliment, Melody Gardot is a talent that is rarely found in
today’s mainstream world and should very soon be deserved of reaching household
name status.
Links
Decca Records
Melody Gardot website
Melody Gardot on Twitter
Melody Gardot on Facebook
Published on Louder Than War 13/06/15 - here
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