SARAH BETTENS
Never Say Goodbye
Cocoon Records 06869
Sarah Bettens is a veteran of the European punk and alt.rock scene who has appeared on MTV and has fronted bands such as K’ Choice. If you know her from those days, Never Say Goodbye will surprise you; if you don’t, she may well be the acoustic discovery of the year. Her husky alto and new repertoire are what you might get if you crossed Diana Krall and Diana Jones.
The album title is an apt one, as many of the selections are torch songs about pursuing love to the bitter end. “I Can Do Better Than You” is a grudge song supreme, its defiant lyrics kicked up by blaring horns and an arrangement evocative of 1930s small combo jazz. Most of the selections are simpler, but they retain the hybrid jazz/folk/pop feel of the opener. Bettens mixes her moods well. In a mid-album stretch she lays down the melancholic jazz blues “Cry Me a River,” and follows it with “Win Me Over,” the sort of love song that encourages bump-and-grind slow dancing. Then it’s something quite different—the funky drum-and-bass “Come Over Here,” which is far sexier than anything Barry White ever did! And then it’s a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” followed by the up-tempo and bright tones of “Go.” The chirpy little catches in Betten’s voice are like something from an old Cyndi Lauper record.
There is wonderful synergy between Bettens—who plays acoustic and electric guitars—and pianist/guitarist Tom Kestens. The duo serve notice that none of this is a studio trick—about half the tracks are live and they do a stunning acoustic version of “Not an Addict,” which was a radio rock hit in Europe. Sarah Bettens is the real deal and Never Say Goodbye reveals a side of her that we hope she continues to reveal.
Never Say Goodbye
Cocoon Records 06869
Sarah Bettens is a veteran of the European punk and alt.rock scene who has appeared on MTV and has fronted bands such as K’ Choice. If you know her from those days, Never Say Goodbye will surprise you; if you don’t, she may well be the acoustic discovery of the year. Her husky alto and new repertoire are what you might get if you crossed Diana Krall and Diana Jones.
The album title is an apt one, as many of the selections are torch songs about pursuing love to the bitter end. “I Can Do Better Than You” is a grudge song supreme, its defiant lyrics kicked up by blaring horns and an arrangement evocative of 1930s small combo jazz. Most of the selections are simpler, but they retain the hybrid jazz/folk/pop feel of the opener. Bettens mixes her moods well. In a mid-album stretch she lays down the melancholic jazz blues “Cry Me a River,” and follows it with “Win Me Over,” the sort of love song that encourages bump-and-grind slow dancing. Then it’s something quite different—the funky drum-and-bass “Come Over Here,” which is far sexier than anything Barry White ever did! And then it’s a cover of Bonnie Raitt’s “I Can’t Make You Love Me,” followed by the up-tempo and bright tones of “Go.” The chirpy little catches in Betten’s voice are like something from an old Cyndi Lauper record.
There is wonderful synergy between Bettens—who plays acoustic and electric guitars—and pianist/guitarist Tom Kestens. The duo serve notice that none of this is a studio trick—about half the tracks are live and they do a stunning acoustic version of “Not an Addict,” which was a radio rock hit in Europe. Sarah Bettens is the real deal and Never Say Goodbye reveals a side of her that we hope she continues to reveal.
Here's a version of "I Can Do Better Than You" without the horns.
Obviously Lars would not find Barry White sexy but curiously I don't find SB sexy either. Some better songs might help though. 'Real deal' may be optimistic.
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