Post Description

Singer-songwriter.

If you’ve come across Chicago singer/songwriter Rachel Drew before, chances are that it’ll have been in her role as a harmony vocalist, maybe with someone like Peter Joly, Jon Langford or Dolly Varden.  But she’s also a songwriter of prodigious talent, and she’s the proud owner of a voice that’s capable of melting the most stubbornly frozen iceberg.  Old Sky New is her second solo album – it follows her 2016 offering, Under The Sun – and it’s a revelation.

I’m definitely not the first observer to fall for that voice of hers; other commentators have described it as “…totally made for radio” and “…powerful and possessing a rich and absorbing quality, whilst also bearing a tender nature with an air of vulnerability.”  I think that those descriptions just about nail it.  Listen closely and you might hear strains of Stevie Nicks, Sandie Shaw or even sometimes Tina Turner – and, of course, you’ll hear a whole lot of Rachel Drew.

Rachel’s musical style is a blend of rock, country, pop, folk and retro soul – she’s attracted comparisons to Lucinda Williams and, particularly, Neko Case.  For Old Sky New, she’s opted to conscript her regular band – John Szymanski (guitars and vocals), Alton Smith (accordion and keyboards), Cathie Van Wert Menard (fiddle), Michael Krayniak (bass), Jason Batchko (drums and percussion), plus Chloe F Orwell, who plays sax on the album’s jazzy closing track – to provide her backing, and that’s clearly been a very wise choice.  The sound is clean, unfussy and fresh.  Old Sky New is a triumph of charmingly sophisticated pop.


Rachel’s agenda is established right from the first bars of When I Dream of You, the album’s breathy bossa nova opener.  The band simmer on a song with an authentic early sixties feel; the accordion and piano are both very tasty, but we’re left in no doubt: Old Sky New is all about that wonderful voice, and there it is – front and centre in the mix.  Please Don’t Wake Me Up exemplifies the freshness of the album – it’s tinkly and poppy with a nice chiming guitar solo, whilst Rachel gives us a tantalizing glimpse of her tender side with the soft, intimate, summery, Somewhere Waiting for Me.

The band is beautifully restrained for the bluesy I’ll Never Change – one of several real highlights – with the swirling organ providing the perfect counterpoint to Rachel’s impassioned vocal, before the pace is cranked up a few notches for the rocky Stuck in the House All Day, in which Rachel sings of the frustrations of a lonely housebound existence, but does so with such evident joie-de-vivre that you can’t really believe her – you just want to get on with the serious business of tapping your feet.

Released as a single back in November 2023, Blaze for You is another outstanding track.  I’ve already mentioned the facet of Rachel’s voice that reminds me of Sandie Shaw, and that similarity is particular evident here, as she delivers yet another impassioned vocal, and the echo-y guitar and eastern-flavoured fiddle provide the perfect accompaniment.  Life Goes On is a delightful chunk of folky pop – a bright, happy stomper, peppered with delicious guitar fills and illuminated by the subtlest of vocal harmonies, before the band turn their hand to raucous rock for Summer’s Over, the first of the album’s three singles.  There’s so much to enjoy here – fiddle, accordion, raunchy guitars and, best of all, the sweetest of vocals from Rachel.

The free and easy country rock of Old Friend is elevated, once again, by an imaginative guitar figure and a breathtaking guitar solo, whilst it’s sleazy organ that steps into the breach to provide the backing to Rachel’s smouldering vocal on Forever Wishing.  John S peels off yet another fluent solo and I have to record that Rachel’s vocal signoff left me all-of-a-quiver!

Rachel comes up with another breathy vocal for If I Were A Child, an irresistible singalong that had me thinking of Fleetwood Mac, before we get to the album’s true piece-de-resistance, closing track If My Heart Was Made For You.  It’s the current single and Rachel has very clearly saved the best for the end.  Pattering bongos and a rich bassline provide a gentle entry point, before the piano fires up and the pace starts to build.  Before you know it, the band are flat out into a jazzy, raucous number with a compulsive rhythm.  Rachel really lets her vocal chords rip – she sounds almost like Tina Turner on this one – and Chloe’s wailing sax adds the icing to a very rich cake.

Old Sky New is an excellent album – a showcase for a voice that needs to be heard.  I’ve a feeling that we’ll hearing quite a lot more of Rachel Drew in the coming months and years.

Tracks:
01. When I Dream of You
02. Please Don't Wake Me Up
03. Somewhere Waiting For Me
04. I'll Never Change
05. Stuck in the House All Day
06. Blaze For You
07. Life Goes On
08. Summer's Over
09. Old Friend
10. Forever Wishing
11. If I Were A Child
12. If My Heart Was Made For You

Staat er compleet op, 10% pars mee gepost. Met zeer veel dank aan de originele poster. Laat af en toe eens weten wat je van het album vindt. Altijd leuk, de mening van anderen. Oh ja, MP3 doe ik niet aan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wD8MK31AzI