Label: Spectra
Review By: Alan Holloway
Blessed (or cursed) with an instantly recognisable surname
to any rock fan, Deborah Bonham has been recording music for twenty years now,
although to be fair she hasn’t exactly been productive, with “Spirit” only her
fourth solo album. What is evident to anyone who has seen her live is that
prodigious or not, Deborah Bonham has a voice that encapsulates what blues rock
is all about.
“Spirit” contains twelve new tracks, and flits between blues
and country rock without really settling. Unsurprisingly, it’s the bluesy stuff
that stands out best, such as the soulful opener “Fly”. Whilst the more country
orientated tracks like “Take Me Down” are catchy enough they lack any real
punch or passion. Bonham sounds great throughout, her vocals like honey in the
ears, but I don’t get the sense of power from “Spirit” that I did when she
supported FM a couple of years ago. In effect, this seems to be a rather
watered down version of what I saw on that stage, with an undeniable talent but
some forgettable songs.
What you have here is an easy listening album that is
pleasant but uninspiring. The twelve tracks certainly don’t fly by, but when
one jumps out at you it seems worth the wait. I suppose the most accurate thing
I can say is that I like it, but not as much as I wanted to.
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