The first point that should be made is that this is a great Singer Songwriter album. Charlie Hannah has a mastery with lyrics that is something that you don't hear as often as you should. These are storytelling songs that are incredibly effective.
Hannah's way with words makes you listen to the story as much as the song in a way that Ward White manages to do the same. Tortured Genius is beautifully arranged, gentle Pop Rock, very 70s in feel and vocal arrangement wise.
A song like Kansas is splendid Piano Pop with a Brass Arrangement that is very Peter Skellern like. Don't Confuse The Singer With The Song benefits from another fine score, this time sounding a little Kid In A Big World era John Howard.
Wyatting is part Folk, part Jazz and Lower The Bar gets a little funky. The Greatest Role I Ever Played enters McCartney Pop. with another great Brass arrangement. But the album isn't all self reflection although I am reminded of Al Stewart at times.
Iceberg is a wonderfully jaunty Pop song. On the verse, it sounds very Nick Heyward, yet the chorus gets all poptastic in a Nick Frater sort of way. Tortured Genius is the sort of album that used to come along regularly, very British Pop.
This album sounds even better due to the absence of competition. Hannah encapsulates a time when we marvelled at quality songs that delivered joy in a laidback way. It is a cracking listen and a refreshing change from big choruses and crashing chords.
You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on CD or as a download.
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