Originally published by L.S. Media. February 16th 2011.

It has been the best part of 23 years since New York singer songwriter Robin Beck made any type of impact with her music in Britain. Although chiefly remembered for her only U.K. number one, the power ballad First Time, the quiet American has released albums which have done well in her native homeland and in other parts of Europe but not touched the consciousness of the record-buying public in this country.

Now that may all change for Robin as she has released an album that is quite frankly her best in years, The Great Escape. The album shows thather voice has regained that ballsy attitude that made her popular when she released her debut album over thirty years ago whilst retaining the femine wiles that make her such an interesting singer to listen to.

The album is written mostly as a continued collaborative affair between Robin and her husband and musician in his own right James Christian and Tommy Denander. The album works as a piece of artistic endeavour on the basis of how these three individuals have managed to team up and bring the best out of Robin.

The album has some sweet tender moments in it as well, however it is on such tracks as Baby I’m Not a Bitch and That All Depends (On What You Do Tonight) which she duets superbly with former Yngwie Malmsteen front man Joe Lynn Turner. The spark that is evident on the track is palpable and an interesting mix of vocal styles and works well to the point where it would be fascinating to hear an entire album by the two vocalists.

It would be a shame if this talented lady was to go another album with no critical or commercial success in one of the mainstays of good original music, the album certainly has the potential to do very well but as ever it could be that the distance Robin puts between her and her audience in this country that may be too be big a gap to fill.

Ian D. Hall