BETH ROWLEY Little Dreamer Universal Music Classics & Jazz Review by Peter Coulston I have been following Beth Rowley’s career for a number of years now and knew her when she used to blow us away on her trips up from Bristol, accompanied only by a good jazz pianist. She has moved on since then, but fortunately has stayed true to the music that she does so well, and which is a bedrock of this album. There is minimal production here, with the jazzier pieces being produced by Steve Power at Snake Ranch and TOP Studios, and the rest by Kevin Bacon and Jonathan Quarmby at RAK Studios. There are old favourites like “Nodody’s Fault But Mine” and “Almost Persauded” which are given minimal production to allow Beth’s voice to do it’s job. “Sweet Hours” is jazzy and “Sublime” is just that, jazzy folk with a great hook. Country blues, complete with dobro, banjo and gospel choir, is visited very successfully on “When The Rains Came” and Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released” is given a ska treatment which works for me, as I was never that keen on the straight version. “Oh My Life” is very Tamla and very Beth, with some nice horns and “Beautiful Tomorrow” is blues and, again, pure Beth. The duet with Duke Special on Willie Nelson’s “Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground” is a joy and another direction for her. I am playing this album a lot, and I know that you will if you can get your hands on it. Go to www.myspace.com/bethrowley for a sample and you will be hooked. Related links: Beth Rowley concert tickets. Beth Rowley's official site. Sign up for the Seatwave newsletter for your chance to win free gig tickets. Sign up to the Seatwave Facebook group - yep, more free tickets!