Katie Melua, Secret Symphony. Album Review.

Originally published by L.S. Media. March 7th 2012. (under the name of Laura Dentt-Steven)

L.S. Media Rating ****

There is no doubting the talent that lies at the heart of Katie Melua. A voice that makes champagne taste so much sweeter and puts to shame a lot of women that feel the need to just flaunt what little talent they have into taking part in the con of stardom that pervades yet another generation of women who think that the way to happiness is by taking part in reality programmes and snaring the latest celebrity footballer.

Secret Symphony sees Katie Melua carry on her relationship with orchestrator and composer Mike Batt and come up with an album of some quality ,even if she is a bit young to be following on in the same well-trodden path that recently even Sir Paul McCartney has gone down with his album Kisses on the Bottom. Katie’s last album release was only a couple of years ago but in that time she has been busy creating some new songs and it appears at first listen that she is enjoying her life once again.

Thankfully not every track on the album is a cover of another artists work. Even those that are, for example a wonderful re-working of Canadian singer Ron Sexsmith’s 2002 song Gold in Them Hills and a rather telling version of Travis’s frontman Fran Healy’s song Moonshine, are incredibly tackled by the Georgian born singer.

It’s when Katie does her own music, or even those composed by the legend that is Mike Batt where Katie shines and is true to her own being and musical direction. The Cry of The Lone Wolf is a perfect example of why, no matter what this woman is needed in today’s competitive musical world inhabited by people that cannot hold a candle to her talent or deserve to be regarded as musicians in the true sense of the word.

Secret Symphony is a dream of an album. Katie Melua’s airey musical voice, which has always had the hallmarks of being second to none, has matured and become one of sultry saloon afternoons mixed with the sound of the mythical sirens of Greek legend. Hauntingly beautiful! A delight on the ears and easy to spend an hour chilling in its company!

Two songs from Secret Symphony have already been released as singles and a third, Better Than a Dream is due for release on March 9th.  The album is out now.