It is no exageration to say that someone listening to this CD for the first time, with no knowledge of the artist in question, could believe that this was some remastered version of some classic 1920's or 1930's album long since forgotten about. Whilst this is very much a modern album, featuring tracks made famous by the likes of Leonard Cohen and Boby Dylan, there is that authentic air of Billie Holliday and Bessie Smith always permeating through.
Quite how this is seen as the "true" style to Norah Jones' "commercial" efforts is beyond me, but it is clear that Madeleine is donig the music she loves and she's doing it bloody well. My particular favourites include "Dance Me To The End Of Love" which surely makes any man listening want to do whatever she asks of them and "Don't Wait Too Long", which is, ironically, one of the few original tracks on the album. Where it falls down is the over-abundance of slower melancholic songs, which whilst being authentic, don't do much for me.
But having said that, the very fact I like this album, when the "style" is certainly not one that I am over-enamoured with, perhaps shows just what a classy piece of work this is. If you have any liking whatsoever for the era of Billie Holiday, then this is certainly an abum for you.
Icon's view - 3 1/2 out of 5.
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