Artist: Chase Bell & White Licorish (featuring Emma Bell and Darius Campo)
Title: I Know U U Know Me (mini album)
Genre: Adult-oriented pop
Release date: September 1, 2014
Pre-order: Here
When I reviewed Chase Bell & White Licorish’s album Skywords last year, I described it as something like “jazz and soul-infused pop.” In other words, pop music for people who want to hear less Auto-Tune and more singing and who value musicianship and composition over computer processing (can you tell I’m old-school?).
My minor critique of that album was its tendency to become White Licorish & Chase Bell at times instead of the other way around. Chase’s voice I likened to that of Bruno Mars: Intimate and sensitive, more bobbing and weaving than power punching its way through the music, and I didn’t think it took center stage often enough on that release.
Now back with a new 5-song mini-album entitled I Know U U Know Me, Chase and his bandmates seem to have drawn the same conclusion. This time around, Mr. Bell is given more sonic space to play with. The arrangements are softer, less busy, and more dynamic. Instead of occasionally competing with the vocals, the other instruments pick their spots with greater creativity, supporting and emphasizing the main melody. The keyboard work stands out for its subtlety, and the collective effect is to make the songs catchier and that much more memorable.
The other notable change is the participation of Chase’s talented sister, actress and singer Emma Bell, who duets on four of the five tunes. You may recall Emma from her role as Amy on season one of The Walking Dead or currently watch her play Emma Brown on TNT’s Dallas revival, though, being the horror fan than I am, I know her best from her lead roles in Final Destination 5 and Frozen (the good Frozen from 2010, with man-eating wolves and lots of unmitigated terror, not that bleeping cartoon!).
Anyway. Emma Bell can sing. It is the burden of writers, when facing the impossible task of explaining music with words, to compare the artist under discussion with another artist readers already know. Given that, I’ll say Ms. Bell reminds me just a little bit of Emmylou Harris. Suffice to say her vocals mesh well with her brother’s and the harmonies are sweet and pleasing to the ear throughout.
The standout track for me is the dynamic “Cats and Dogs,” which alternates between sparse, introspective verses and big wall-o-sound choruses to great effect. Other songs include the bouncy, lightly funky “Paint the Wind;” the piano-heavy “Like a Taxi,” with a rather Queen-like melody; the folky “Hear You There;” and the haunting ballad “Savior,” featuring the string work of renowned session violinist Darius Campo.
If the goal of a songwriter is to make people want to hear his song again (and it should be), Chase Bell & White Licorish’s I Know U U Know Me is 5 for 5 in that regard.
The EP will be available online from September 1. For more info visit the band’s website.
August 18th, 2014 at 12:21 pm
I enjoyed some of this when you posted previously. Just listened to An Artist.
Not too shabby at all.
Met your Match: Cracking song!
August 19th, 2014 at 11:22 pm
I’m glad people still play instruments. It’s hard to tell with some of the stuff out there.
August 18th, 2014 at 1:50 pm
I remember you posted something similar in the past about a band (right?) and I did go into the link you provided, loved their songs. Music heals. It’s so wonderful when the singer has a rich voice. Will check out Ms Bell and co.
August 19th, 2014 at 11:24 pm
Music is the universal language and has played a big part in bringing people together before the rest of society was ready.
Thanks for showing yourself around these parts recently. I hope you are feeling better.
August 18th, 2014 at 2:33 pm
Eric, I like the photo, and I thought the guy with a beard coming down the stairs was you!
Your writing about the music makes me wanna listen . . .
August 19th, 2014 at 11:25 pm
That beard is far superior to mine. However, I am surely on his level as a stair walker.
😉
August 21st, 2014 at 1:46 pm
Thanks Eric for your words on my beard, I’m shure you’re superior than me as stair walker!! 😉
Stefano (the beardy stairs walker)
Thank you for your review, you write better than we play!!! 🙂
Very happy that you enjoyed our EP!!!
August 21st, 2014 at 2:11 pm
I don’t believe that, Stefano! You guys know your way around musical instruments. Best of luck with the new record, and keep rocking that beard!
August 18th, 2014 at 5:24 pm
Chase does sound like Bruno and his photo reminds me of a character from Pride and Prejudice. 🙂
I definitely like their sounds. Great review, Eric!
August 19th, 2014 at 11:26 pm
Thanks for reading, Jill!
August 18th, 2014 at 6:02 pm
I enjoyed the Sneak Peak on their website.
The first song reminded me of a blast from the past which is tickling the corners of my mind. If the group comes to mind, I’ll let you know.
August 19th, 2014 at 11:28 pm
at least once a week, and more like once a day, a song snippet appears in my head and I can’t rest until I figure out what it’s from. I need more gigabytes under my cranium.
August 19th, 2014 at 10:42 am
Great review, Eric. Really natural and so unpretentious! My kind of association with the art world!
August 19th, 2014 at 11:30 pm
Thanks for reading! I like to draw attention to up and coming artists from time to time on this blog, if I think they have something new and interesting to offer.
August 19th, 2014 at 7:36 pm
I’ve never heard of this group before. I can always count on you to introduce me to new sounds. 🙂
August 19th, 2014 at 11:31 pm
And there’s no much more out there we haven’t discovered yet. I miss working in a music store sometimes, getting to hear all the new things coming out.
August 19th, 2014 at 7:45 pm
I had a listen – definitely my kind of music. I think you do a wonderful job of putting music into words, Eric.
August 19th, 2014 at 11:32 pm
Why thanks! It’s hard to tell how a piece of writing comes across, as I’m sure you’ve experienced with your own material.
August 20th, 2014 at 10:26 am
Well written as usual my friend.
August 21st, 2014 at 12:35 am
Thanks, bud!