Artist: Caro Emerald
Release: Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor
If someone had told me I would be listening to an artist who has successfully bought together 40s/50s inspired Jazz, mixed it with a bit of mambo, a dash of pop and a sparkle of individuality, I would have been shocked. However… as you have probably guessed there is an individual who has bought this unique array of music and adapted it to a modern mainstream audience, but who is it? Her name is Caro Emerald and she’s pretty much a big deal.
Caro Emerald was first discovered in 2007 and her talent has since seen her become an internet sensation and a favourite with many UK music channels and radio stations (she recently did an acoustic set for BBC London and her album, as this review went to press, was at Number 3 in the official UK Indie album chart).
So what’s her album like? The album is entitled “Deleted Scenes From The Cutting Room Floor” (Dramatico Records), and the best way to dissect this album is to compare it to a successful remake of a classic 50’s movie.
The opening credits to this award winning film would be the delightfully upbeat “Stuck” which could easily be a top 10 hit. The seductive femme fatal lead would be the single “A Night Like This” as it has a catchy/sexy Latin vibe and is defiantly what a lazy Sunday in the garden calls for. The handsome male lead would have to be the track “That Man”.
The chemistry between the main characters would defiantly have to be the aptly titled “You Don’t Love Me”. Within this track, which has to be one of my favourites, Caro’s voice creates a sound that resonates undertones of 50s swing, and draws upon connotations of a smoky jazz bar with feather bowers.
The album could easily be inspired by Jazz greats such as Ella Fitzgerald but yet undoubtedly holds its own as a unique piece of pop/modern mainstream jazz/swing that is both delightful and charming. This album is defiantly worth a listen, especially if you’re looking for something a bit different but safely within the mainstream.
Reviewer: Emilie Hicking
