Although Hugh Laurie is a genuine Englishman with all the attributes in place, including the manners and the pronunciation, it never stopped him loving blues, the music deeply rooted in the traditionally poor American South, a place Laurie has a vague idea of. Although Hugh is a famous actor who rose to the worldwide prominence owing to his Dr. House part in the eponymous TV show, this did not stop him from changing shooting area for recording studio to make a collection of blues songs. The truth is that there is nothing so surprising about it. To be on the safe side, the actor (and the musician too as we have learned just now) admitted that Southern states are a distant and unknown world to him, he, in fact, has been a long-time rigorous fan of blues. Despite all this fondness, the Englishman has scarcely given a serious though to releasing a solo album before the recent moment. But now is a very good time to do that. It takes you to put an easily recognizable face on a CD to be sure the whole endeavor will bring rich commercial fruit. Everybody knows Hugh Laurie, knows him as a talented actor. Talented people, as many believe, are talented in everything.
Let Them Talk is a title with a message that Laurie might have made to defend his debut effort just in case. It could be understood so that he is not very much concerned with the opinions of critics and listeners tending to judge too strictly. However, even if we do judge this work really strictly, even if we forget that it is an album recorded by him who is rather an actor than a musician, still that’d be too difficult to find serious missteps. Yes, it is all done by the example of other performers, and yes, this album is just an accurate remake of what was done before, the original is too good music for Let Them Talk to be a bad release. Besides, Hugh did a good job himself. He not only sings properly, but also plays all piano parts here! Of course, as an actor, he skillfully controls his voice and intonations to make listeners hear something new in songs they have already heard. This is especially impressive when we have songs with stories, like acoustic The Whale Has Swallowed Me or gospel Battle Of Jericho. Swanee River is a very special track for Laurie. He learned to play it when he was a teenager. Performing it many years later, he obviously enjoys himself as you can hear his laughter.
One of the keys to the success of Let Them Talk is that Hugh Laurie chose Joe Henry as a producer. This man is an experienced professional who has worked with a lot of blues performers. His approach has not changed much in long years and it never depends on those who collaborate with him. Joe’s arrangements are aimed at ‘lighting’ of the atmosphere. This is why even those tracks where the story is dramatic, you are not going to sink into sadness. Melancholy is what you have at worst. Laurie’s vocals produce the same effect as he sings in a little raspy voice and repeatedly refers to playful manner. This is very easy to explain. While making this CD, Hugh was having a break, relaxing away from his primary occupation and recollecting his youth that he lived to the sounds of blues. He also wants us to join him in this resting and forget all troubles and sorrows. In one of the interviews covering the release of this record, Hugh said that he would be happy if this album becomes to some of his listeners a door to the world of blues, the music they did not know before. His wish is highly likely to come true.
Love After War 2011
American musician, actor and composer Robin Thicke released the fifth studio attempt with a beautiful name Love After War. Listeners will get an hour of excellent music
