Chick - Free Range
Rainbow Network
We are sent a lot of self-produced CDs at Rainbow Network Towers and most are of a very high, if underproduced standard. So after a rave review email about Chick Atkinson from one of our members, we decided to investigate this �folk/indie style� singers new album, �Free Range�.
The first thing to say about �Free Range� is that the sound samples on Chick�s website do not do her justice, as useful as a real player is, it can make Barry White sound like Margarita Pracatan with a cold.
Chick has a raspy, slightly breathless voice, backed very simply by a guitar and the occasional precussion instrument. Musically she draws comparisoms to the Indigo Girls and Everything but the Girls� �Eden� album (i.e when EBTG were good). Although she is from the UK, Chick has an American sound that puts her closer to �Jewel� than �Eddie Reader�.
The album opens with a distinctively Indigo Girls-esque �Icarus�. It reminds me a little of Michelle Shocked in its jolly folk sound with thinly disguised dark lyrics. The next track is the melodic �Shadows�. Chick opens �just another night full of dread and fear and fright, fear of the unknown and I�m facing it all alone� and my never quite gotten over teenage angst rushes to flop on the sofa. Fortunately, before I dig out my copy of "Meat is Murder� Chick stirs up passions with �Words Get in the Way�, a song about domestic violence.
�Will you stay?� Is a very pretty love song about longing about struggling with feelings for someone that you shouldn�t love. It is a sweet, melodic track that makes you feel warm and fuzzy. The subject of being afraid that the love for this person is a sin, touches a nerve for many lesbians and gay men. Although throughout �Free Range� Chick does a KD, and talks in abstracts about the love that dare not sing its name.
It is sad that the major record labels feel that there is a backlash in the UK against �girls with guitars� and Chick Atkinson will probably never get the promotion she deserves. �Free Range� is such a strong album that everyone I�ve played it to wants a copy. That is the best recommendation I can think of for any artist!
(1999 www.rainbownetwork.com)
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