Like a blast from the past, Heather Powell has a classic voice, one that belongs in a shimmering dress, holding the microphone tightly, with her heart on her sleeve. Like a member of the Supremes or the Ronettes, she’s got heart, spunk and thanks to solid lyrics, excellent story-telling capabilities.
And she knows it.
The cover of her album “A Haze of Grays and Blue†proves it.
Fueled by melodic tunes and her wonderfully powerful, yet silky voice, the album is a throwback to an easier time. When women didn’t have to be half-naked and ride cannonballs to sell lyrics. Behind real lyrics, excellent musicianship and plenty of balance, Powell is a songstress to keep an eye on.
What helps the album incredibly once you get past Powell’s vocals is the musicianship. From acoustic guitar to bass, the supporting band is great. It makes sense when you find out Tomás Doncker produced the album and shares writing duties. An excellent guitarist, Docker makes sure he inserts himself in all of the right places, but never takes the focus away from Powell. Even on tracks with more of a bluesy or big band feel the likes of “Awaken Me,†you never forget that Powell is singing, even if the trumpet and piano is an absolute pleasure.
Another pure example is on “Unexpected,†where you can’t help but smile when you hear the bass and guitar play, with tambourines and later electric guitar. It’s a classic sound, with Powell’s beautifully soft vocal work. Tones like this make Powell a pleasure to listen to.
Speaking of beautiful to listen to, the vocal harmony between Doncker and Powell on “Remember the Love†makes it a track that’ll take you back to the days of The Carpenters. Songs like this just aren’t made anymore. Soft and full of passion, it’s one that blows on Lite Rock stations all over the country. The same thing goes for “Wishing.†It feels like a letter from the heart, sung by Ariel from “Disney’s The Little Mermaid.†It’s crazy to think, but the more you listen to Howell, the more it makes you think she has the type of voice that would serve her just as well on Broadway as it would in a blues band.
Behind Powell’s wonderful vocals and Doncker’s musical arrangements, “A Haze of Grays and Blue†is a special album full of sultry tunes that serve as a perfect ambiance for a night by the fire with a loved one- or someone you’d like to show some love to.
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