Print this article E-mail this article More articles by this author

Release Date: August 26, 2008 Label: Blix Street Grade: A-

Blix Street collects a wide range of material from the late Eva Cassidy in Somewhere. Largely a collection of reinterpreted covers, Somewhere also includes some rare and newly-completed original pieces that fans and music appreciation students should find reason enough to pick up this album.

The set opens simply enough with an acoustically subdued rendition of Dolly Parton's "Coat of Many Colors," followed by an arrangement by the artist of the Robert Burns traditional, "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose." These put the listener into an almost 70s kind of mellow mood, which is quickly shaken away by the guitars of the strong and bluesy "Ain't Doin' Too Bad."

"Ain't Doin' Too Bad" was originally recorded by Eva in 1996 for Live at Blues Alley (previously unreleased). The track has been enhanced, however, with new background music, commissioned by Eva's producer, Chris Biondo, giving the live recording a contemporary, studio-produced feeling. Background music was also enhanced for Eva's take on "Chain of Fools," which also includes new background vocals provided by British soul singers Leonie and Amba Tremain.

In addition to "Coat of Many Colors," Cassidy also reworked other classic country music songs, with "Walkin' After Midnight" and "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain" both being included herein. However, it was her unusual mix of powerful blues/funk songs like "Won't Be Long" and "Early One Morning" juxtaposed against the madrigal sounds found in "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose" and "A Bold Young Farmer" in which Cassidy displayed her greatest strengths.

Possibly my favorite song on this album, however, is Cassidy's acoustic arrangement of George Gershwin's "Summertime," delivered with all the cool sultriness of a speakeasy chanteuse, a style which paved the way for artists like Katie Melua.

Wrapping the album is the title track, "Somewhere," which had been unfinished until Biondo and former bandmates of Cassidy pulled together to complete the song that he and Cassidy co-wrote, delivering an anthem brimming with an almost gospel-like spirituality. "Is time my redeemer?" the opening lyrics ask, with the chorus rolling in, "Somewhere, somehow, at sometime someone cared, maybe just for a moment or maybe for a lifetime." With this posthumous release of songs from Cassidy's eclectic catalog, the lyrics seem somewhat prophetic: lifelong fans and those newly touched by Cassidy's spirit will indeed care as her voice continues to reach across time.