Four years after the release of her most recent full album
of original songs, it is a very warm welcome back to Eileen Rose and her brand
of gutsy impassioned Americana music. As a prelude to BE MANY GONE, Eileen put out
a limited taster of some of the new songs in the aptly named stripped back
album BONES but now the time has come to unleash the multi instrumental
versions to her target audience in the US and Europe.
Not that Eileen has been idle in the intervening years since
LUNA TURISTA was released as her Silver Threads honky tonk project has kept
things ticking over in Nashville allowing her to indulge in her passion for
traditional country music with a live residency and a couple of releases.
However the new album with the Legendary Rich Gilbert co-steering it through to
release sees Eileen put the country and indie rock past on one side as she
embarks on an explorative journey through an eclectic range of experimental
sounds. While the sampling of Latino, rock n’ roll and jazz/blues makes BE MANY
GONE multifarious in parts, ultimately Eileen has settled for a laid back
lounge sound which suits to a tee her rounded, versatile and slightly sultry vocal style.
At a shade just short under forty minutes, the album
apologetically doesn’t out stay its welcome which is not needed as at the end of the
nine tracks you just start to get settled with a temptation to put your feet
up, pour another and relax. This is due
to the tempo being lowered in the final three songs where a backdrop of dainty
pedal steel and fiddle guide through ‘Wake
Up Silly Girl’, ‘Comfort Me’ and ‘There
Will Be Many Gone’.
The more upbeat songs on the album include the opening ‘Queen of the Fake Smile’ and the rock n’
roll retro feel to ‘Just Ain’t So’
where Rich grasps the opportunity to showcase his blistering electric guitar
acumen, reminiscent to what those lucky enough to catch him at the Maverick
Festival saw. The driving double bass from Joe Fick keeps this track ticking
over and an example of the diversity of instruments that are sprinkled
throughout the album.
The final four songs were all previewed in demo format on
BONES and each has its own distinct appeal to solidify the album into a release
of merit. The only track that Eileen didn’t solo write was ‘Prove Me Wrong’,a joint
effort with UK singer songwriter Boo Hewerdine where letting Rich’s pedal steel
wash over you enhances this well written tune. ‘Space You Needed’ is another memorable song which oozes with
sophistication while ‘She’s Yours’
will transport you to a late night jazz blues bar where a little trumpet joins
the strings and percussion to ensure the evening prolongs way past the midnight
hour.
The albums finest track sits right at its epicentre and sees
Eileen experiment in a Latino inspired sound to record a duet with fellow
Bostonian Frank Black. ‘Each Passing Hour’,with the accordion and castanets providing the south of the border feel, is an
excellent piece of work, along the same lines as the wonderful cover of ‘Luckenbach
Texas’ which Eileen recorded with Jim Lauderdale on an earlier album.
www.eileenrose.com
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