Cécile Doo-Kingué - Anybody Listening, Pt 1 : Monologues

2015 – CDK Musik

By Phillip Smith; Mar 21, 2015

Soulful vocals paired with infectious rhythms and thought-provoking lyrics, are the heart of Cécile Doo-Kingué’s latest album, Anybody Listening Pt. 1: Monologues, the first installment in a trilogy of albums. Anybody Listening features nine blues-soaked, cleverly written songs performed on acoustic guitar in a solo setting. 

Doo-Kingué makes a huge powerfully submissive splash with album opener, “Make Me”. I love her sultry vocals on this fusion of funk and blues.  She keeps the mood light in “Little Bit” as well, in this ditty about what it takes to get in the happy place. I can’t help but smile when I hear this one.

As a voice for a new generation of activists, Doo-Kingué picks up where the Seventies left off, when it comes to writing songs promoting civil rights.  “Bloodstained Vodka” is her response to the arrest of feminist punk rockers, Pussy Riot for charges of hooliganism, and Putin’s anti-gay stance.  Stand-out track, “Six Letters” takes a seriously heavy look at racism and the atrocities which go hand in hand with it.  Doo-Kingué plays this one in a traditional blues style, complete with slide.        

Title track, “Anybody Listening” a mellow ode to loneliness closes the album with a sad and slow yet funky rhythm. Although Anybody Listening Pt. 1: Monologues seems to goes by fast, it has a lot of replay-ability.  This poignant album leaves me wanting to hear more, and excited to hear the next two albums in the series.       

For more info on Cécile Doo-Kingué, visit her website http://www.cdkmusik.com/

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Evan - New Folk

2015 – Evan

By Phillip Smith; Feb 7, 2015

The soothing sounds of New Folk by Evan are quite a refreshing change of pace when it comes to folk music.  Evan’s unique vocal styling and catchy acoustic rhythms provide the perfect vehicle for his cleverly written songs.  Songwriter/Guitarist/Vocalist Evan Meulemans is joined by drummer/percussionist Mike Underwood, and bassist Graham Prellwitz in the making of this earthy eight track album.

Title track, “New Folk”, a delightful tune about self-awareness and purpose, reels me in for the long haul.  This wonderful song has been swimming in my head since I first heard it.  I also am really drawn to the poppy track, “Morning Dew”, about letting down ones hair and running free.  It’s such a fun listen, it puts a big smile on my face each time I hear it.    

Ushering in a feeling of tranquilly is “Water Song”, a short and sweet little song about getting back to nature, and allowing fate to run its course.  Evan slows things down a bit on “Wishing Well”. Softly sung, and lightly played, this song poetically expresses a longing for a lost love.  I like the way this song unexpectedly picks up with a boost in tempo midway.       

New Folk is a positively charged, feel-good folk album which leaves me wanting to hear more.       

http://phillycheezeblues.blogspot.com/