Topic: Chantel McGregor - The CD thread
While studying for her music degree, Chantel McGregor started out her music career playing in the clubs and bars of the north of England, and very soon began carving out a reputation as one of the new rising stars of the rock blues circuit. Chantel went on to graduate with a First Class Honours degree in Popular Music, with record marks, at the Leeds College of Music in 2009. With a degree now under her belt, Chantel was now able to concentrate full time on music and gigging, and begun blazing a trail up and down the UK, night after night with her three-piece band, wowing audiences with her virtuoso playing. The long awaited debut album, Like No Other, was released last month.
The album consists of twelve songs. Nine originals and three covers. Robin Trower's Daydream and Sonny Boy Williamson's Help Me have both been cornerstones of the live set in recent years. The third of the covers, Fleetwood Mac's Rhiannon was introduced into the live set as a solo acoustic number at the end of last year. Of the twelve songs, five of them are acoustic including Cat Song, a two minute whirlwind of a stomp.
It would have been easy for Chantel to make an album that is a showcase for her jaw dropping talent as a guitarist, but Chantel's playing is actually quite restrained for the most part. She does not succumb to any temptation to over-play, and strikes just the right balance between power and finesse. The focus is on the quality of the songs themselves. And it's here that she excels. As a writer and performer of classic pop songs, a great talent is revealed as a singer-songwriter where the focus shifts to Chantel's passionate vocals, and of course, as a rock/blues musician where Chantel has made her name through the electrifying full on rock of the live shows. There is a huge variety of songs on the album with Chantel seemingly having the ability to draw inspiration from anywhere within the vast universe of rock music. And sounding a complete natural at whatever she turns her hand to. The end result is an inspired collection of songs drawing from rock, pop, prog and blues.
A few personal highlights would have to include the stripped down version of Rhiannon. Accompanied by special guest Jocasta Whippy on the Cello, it's a stripped down, atmospheric, acoustic take on the song. And with a vocal of stunning beauty. Screams Everlasting is another beautiful acoustic song and has a heart melting vocal. It ends with a smouldering slow burning solo which climbs and rises like a phoenix as Chantel switches to electric guitar to close out the song. Freefalling has a great chorus and middle eight and sounds even better with the addition of string harmonies. And Daydream, with a long instrumental closing section is a mesmeric piece of playing. The bass, drums and organ taking you down into deep alpha, holding you there, and then Chantel's guitar takes over as she puts you under a spell and leads you on a journey through the mind for the remaining ten minutes of the song. The solo builds, oscillates, and then swirls into a crescendo of sound as Chantel shifts gears and cuts loose as she unleashes some blistering soloing before slowing it down again and bringing a true epic to a close.
Chantel McGregor is a proper vocalist. She has a pure, distinctive voice full of passion and a real natural warmth. Her delivery is crystal clear throughout the album.
Chantel has assembled some high quality musicians to help make this album. Robin Trower's bandmates Livingstone Brown on bass and keyboards, and Chris Taggart on drums. And credit to Livingstone Brown for his outstanding production work.
Clocking in at nearly 64 minutes, Chantel McGregor has set a very high standard with this album. It will appeal to a very wide audience of all ages. It's very radio friendly and full of catchy, melodic hooks and choruses. There is something there for everyone to enjoy, and lots for most people to enjoy.
This is an album that will stand the test of time, a timeless classic that is sure to be judged as one of the great debut albums. The album is available direct from Chantel's website at http://www.chantelmcgregor.com
) raw and fiesty, thats still there but now Chantel is a very accompolished Live Act with a full Rock/Blues set
