Sorrow rising and falling
Beyond genre appeal – a glorious easy listening blast from the past
Fifteen years on from Rumer classic Seasons of My Soul with Redtenbacher’s Funkestra newly in tow Rumer returns to some of her classic songs.
That voice is as miraculous as ever and the settings here are more jazz relatable although I do miss guitarist Matt Backer’s elegant touch on Seasons of My Soul.
‘Slow,’ ‘Aretha’, and more stand the test of time there’s nothing exploitative about these re-recordings at all.
Redtenbacher is an Austria born UK-based bass player and band leader, who worked closely with Rumer to create fresh arrangements of her existing songs and co-produced the album with the singer-songwriter. Mike Sturgis is on drums and has Gadd like buoyancy which the material sometimes slightly countrified, sometimes bluesy, funky and jazzy, needs.
‘Take Me As I Am’ remains as tantalising as ever
‘Blackbird’ remains so beautiful – the singer’s lyrics are just as good as the vocals which is partly why Rumer is such a great artist and the Seasons of my Soul songs so timeless and the bedrock of what’s here. More than that she is a singer who can touch your soul and move you.
The version of ‘Take Me As I Am,’ is definitely the outstanding track.
A voice as perfect as Karen Carpenter’s
It takes us back to hearing the singer (real name Sarah Joyce) live a few times, firstly at the Tabernacle in west London before the album went massive. And later at Hammersmith Working Man’s Club but the band weren’t as good. We were blown away by Seasons of My Soul and still are. Her voice is still glorious, that bit darker and even more mature – and as pure and perfect as Karen Carpenter. The lyrics are so vulnerable and moving. It will make your day, friend, spending time with In Session today. Surely this new reminder will compel you to see Rumer for the first time or all over again as if for the first time given how everything is still box fresh.
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