Charlotte Church-Back To Scratch Album launch: The Pigalle Club, Picadilly. Sept 16th 2010

It's certainly fair to say that the life of Charlotte Maria Church has been a bit of a rollercoaster, both personally and professionally. We’ll leave the private life to one side here and focus on the music of Ms Church 3.0.

The title is a clear indication of what she wanted to do with this, her second non-classical album, literally taking her away from the polished pop of 2005’s “Tissues and Issues” to a more minimal acoustic sound. No longer a “Crazy Chick” but perhaps more of a hippy chick?

This was only the second time she had performed any of these songs in public, having played a warm-up gig in a small pub just the night before, but this was in front of some of the big cheeses of the music industry and press, so no pressure then?

Opening with an a cappella operatic chant, you could be confused in thinking she really has gone back to her ‘Voice of an Angel’ days (or maybe the fact the Pope was in town threw her slightly), but soon the band kick in and launch into the first song, “Logical World”

Having never heard her sing live, I was actually quite impressed at just how strong her voice is. All that vocal training from such a young age really has paid off. The new material is strong too, much of which was co-written by guitarist Jonathan Powell, who not only happens to be the new man in her life, but also has his own solo material coming soon. It is certainly a good year for him.

Although genuinely nervous throughout the performance, the chat show Charlotte is also still apparent with a few one-liners thrown in along the way. “You think I’d be used to this after 12 years” she said before performing “Honesty” a track she said she wrote “just for myself”. Now that is honest.

Highlights of the gig were “Snow”, a beautiful ballad again co-written by Jonathan, the album’s title track and first single “Back To Scratch” and “The Story Of Us” which was written “about my mum and what a pain in the arse she is”. In fact mum Maria was sat only a few feet away and was wiping away the tears by the end of the song.

It’s difficult to know how this album will be received, there’s lot of competition out there from artists of a similar style like Ellie Goulding and Florence who have come along during what was essentially Charlotte’s 5 year maternity leave, but from the evidence here, it is a strong album and when you think she is still only 24, there is still so much potential for her and going “Back To Scratch” might just be what she needed to do.

“Back To Scratch” the single is out now and the album is released October 25th.

Set list
Logical World
Unraveling
The Story Of Us
Snow
Honesty
Back To Scratch
Don’t Think About It

TARA LONDON-Live at Proud, Camden, Sept 13th 2010

It’s no secret that the music industry is currently in love the female singer/songwriter with a bit of attitude. Amy kicked it all off a few years back then suddenly the flood gates were opened. Duffy and Adele followed, they were joined by the likes of Paloma, Florence & Rox and the list keeps growing.

So next for your listening pleasure we give you Tara London, a vocalist who, like most of the aforementioned artists, has a retro style, both in music and image.
Tara has been performing on the live circuit over the last few years and gradually building herself a fan-base, as well as winning the odd award along the way. With a debut album ‘FairyTales & Stepping Stones’ soon to be released, it’s a good time to find out with what she’s all about.

I caught her live at the amazing surroundings of Proud, the converted 200-year-old Grade II Listed Horse Hospital in the Stables Market, Camden.

Over the last few years, the venue has played host to the very best live music - Peter Doherty, Dizzee Rascal, The Kooks, Stereophonics, VV Brown and more have all have played intimate sets here. The bar has developed a cult following and become a celebrity hang-out, with regulars including Miss Winehouse, Sadie Frost, Carl Barat and The Arctic Monkeys.

As her band takes to the stage you may be forgiven for thinking you are about to see a tribute to The Commitments, such is the diversity of the members of her band, however Tara soon joins them, complete with vintage attire, and everything falls into place.

Kicking off her show with “Just For Tonight”, it’s clear that the she is a competent performer who can certainly hold her own in the ever increasing arena of female talent. The beautiful “Chasing Rainbows” follows and you can see why Tara has drawn comparisons with the likes of Duffy. She has a voice which lends itself nicely to current pop sensibilities as well as elements of classic jazz and blues.

A couple of well chosen covers are thrown into the set, a ‘Faith’ful version of Paloma’s “My Legs Are Weak” and later, the Noisettes “Never Forget You” help gets the crowd livened up.

Other tracks of note during the set are the heartfelt ‘Beautiful Lie’, written specially for the charity ACT (http://www.againstchildtrafficking.org) and tackling the issues it raises, and the tender ‘Bitter Sweet’ on which she gets to show off her range to it’s full ability.



Of course nothing is perfect; there is still a little work that needs to be done to tighten the whole act up a bit and there are a few songs that don’t necessarily work as well live, but this is something that can only improve over time.

The highlight of her live show is saved ‘til last. ‘No Place To Go’ is the perfect sing-a-long track with it’s call and response lines of “I say ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah’, you say ‘No, no, no, no, no’”, which keeps ringing in your head long after the band have packed up and headed home.



To use a bit of a cliché, it's clear Tara London is definitely "one to watch", an artist with just the right mixture of a modern but classic sound. With a bit of luck you’ll be hearing more of her soon.

Full set list

Just For Tonight
Chasing Rainbows
My Legs Are Weak
You & I
Beautiful Lie
Never Forget You
Call On Me
Bed Of Lies
You Fall Down
Bitter Sweet
No Place To Go

For more info on Tara London check out her website taralondonmusic.co.uk


Or find her on Twitter , Facebook or MySpace