Thursday, March 3, 2011

Madeleine Peyroux - Dreamland (1996)





Madeleine Peyroux - Dreamland (1996)


01. Walkin' After Midnight
02. Hey Sweet Man
03. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter
04. (Getting Some) Fun Out Of Life
05. La Vie En Rose
06. Always A Use
07. A Prayer
08. Muddy Water
09. Was I
10. Dreamland
11. Reckless Blues

I have all three of Madeleine Peyroux's albums now having recently purchased this beauty. All through the album, you can tell the quality and the feeling in her vocal performance. I find it difficult to believe now that it took 8 years before Madeleine Peyroux became a household name with her second album "Careless Love" and not this one. Never mind. This is still a wonderful album.

This album is a launching pad for Madeleine Peyroux to launch from. Her singing style is very similar to that of Billie Holiday and Bessie Smith, the jazz and blues divas of their time. It hits off with "Walking After Midnight" and finishes off with a blues-fuelled "Lovesick Blues". The tracks inbetween are also of distinction including "Dreamland", the title track, a delicious blues-jazz fusion, "La Vie En Rose", a beautiful tribute to the Little Sparrow, Edith Piath and "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself A Letter".

What Madeleine Peyroux does so well on this amazing album is breathe new life into these old and well known songs (she does this on her other albums too but she did it here first). Fusing jazz in with the blues is a neat idea and it works extremely well and her voice is refreshing to hear and she sings the songs to perfection. A joy from start to finish.