'Bakelite' is the debut studio album from Reb Capper, the Suffolk based singer songwriter who received positive reviews for her E.P. 'The Half Elf', and has followed this up with several radios sessions which have raised her profile.
Certainly, this album has a lot to recommend it, having fourteen tracks whick vary between folk, quirky pop, and lush piano ballads. Added to this, Reb possesses a voice of surprising depth and clarity, her work having been described as reminding “of the buzz and excitement of early Kate Bush”, which is something of a double edged sword. On the one hand, it may do no harm to be compared to a legend of UK female vocalists, however, equally, it can sometimes cause unfavourable comparisons to be drawn with that artist's work causing them to be seen almost as a copyist.
Fortunately this should not be the case here (although this album's release has coincided with Kate's decision to resume touring) as Reb has crafted an album of great depth. After all, anyone who can cite The Muppets as an influence on their work has got to be OK in my book!
The opening title track bgins with the sound of a radio being tuned in, an appropriate if a little oblique reference, as bakelite was the plastic originally used for all nonconducting parts of radios and other electrical devices. This then morphs into an excellent guitar and piano based pop song which bounces along, with some well written lyrics which appear to show the differences between people, using the metaphor of old and new technology: “You were digital, taking over, I am longwave/ Your fuse was short, I ought to have seen the signs, outside your cave/ Do not feed the bears, for there is something that they crave...Attention!”
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Following this is 'Masquerade', a poppy piano ballad that never overstays its welcome, despite being nearly five and a half minutes in length. Once again, the lyrics appear to reference relationships: - “Dancing together, your mask never fell/ Beauty lies on your skin but your lies never tell/
Lost in the music, the dance too me in, my feet never touched the ground/ But I found, the sound became thin.”
Another excellent track is the upbeat piano pop of 'Wedding Bells' (not to be confused with the Godley & Creme track of the same name, this is far better!). Once again, some clever lyrics hold the attention and manage to put a smile on the face: - “I have a picture of you, I drew it straight from my heart/ You were tall and had it all, except for one major part/ Well done for receiving such fine genetic code/ But the bit that's up to you sucks through and through/ My prince turned into a toad.”
Overall this is an excellent debut, which deserves attention, and is well worth adding to your CD collection.
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