Play 90 second soundbite of 'Live Life' @ 'CD quality'
Carol has been around on the local scene for a good few years and I've been a believer since I first had the pleasure to see, hear and meet her about six years ago. Then she went under the name Carol Owen - the name's changed and the whole Carol Lee Sampson package has grown in strength, maturity and belief! 'Back To Life' is the first recorded work I've heard from this little folk bombshell and it's one hell of a album.
Carol has an almost indefinable but magical formula when it comes to penning good 'chunes' and her lyrics are both mature and heartfelt. Listening, I get the impression that Carol's managed to put part of her past to rest here - there's some quite deep stuff in here but Carol doesn't let it get too heavy and it's certainly not self-indulgent. As I listen to 'Back To Life' I'm left wondering why on earth Carol Lee Sampson hasn't been able to make it in a bigger way - she' got all the credentials, she's got all the talent, so why hasn't someone picked this lady up and moved her on? I suppose that's what's frustrating about the music industry though - the fact that someone this bloody talented can work hard at her craft and still not be fully appreciated for those talents by the unknowing music lovers out there simply coz she's just not had that one lucky encounter with someone who can make the difference.
Anyway, back to the album - 'Back To Life' is a beautifully conceived and elegantly performed piece of work; Carol's vocals are bright, precise and very polished - she has a beautifully balanced delivery that allows her to 'emote' without ever sounding forced or contrived. Instrumentally, Carol's surrounded herself with quality musicians here that seem to have a real, empathetic feel for her work and support her brilliantly. The recording is crisp and well handled and Carol's packaged the whole thing to a very high standard - this is a great album from conception to delivery!
Carol Lee Sampson's songs are just about as good as it gets and I can't help but feel that Carol Lee Sampson just doesn't know how good she actually is! 'Back To Life' by Carol Lee Sampson is a stunning piece of work that I've waited a long time to hear - it was well worth the wait - every bit as good as I'd expected - superb!!
|
|
