Review: Hailing from Norway, Hedvig Mollestad is renowned for her ability to bridge the worlds of jazz and heavy rock with a fierce, improvisational spirit. The trio, which has been at the heart of her sound since its inception, is back with their latest offering after a four-year hiatus, following the release of Ding Dong. This time, there's a palpable sense of urgency and creative freedom. Tracks like 'Bees In The Bonnet' and 'Under The Velvet Sky' highlight their complex interplay, weaving intricate structures with fiery, riff-heavy moments. The trio's chemistry, cultivated over years of touring and writing together, has only deepened, with an infectious energy that resonates throughout the release. Mollestad's sharp, commanding guitar work remains a focal point, as she effortlessly fuses influences from jazz legends to the weighty riffs of metal pioneers.
Review: Billie Holiday's late career 1958 LP through Verve Records caught the legendary singer at a relatively intimate stage: substance abuse compounded financial difficulties, which imposed a toll on her already turbulent personal life, and Holiday's once-pure, all-powerful voice was showing signs of wear. A title like All Or Nothing At All would certainly seem to express the captive intensity of an industry that "breaks" artists in more ways than one, and despite the mixed reviews on release, this small combo-backed record is of one artist's broken but still functioning sensitivity. With Harry "Sweets" Edison and saxophonist Ben Webster, Holiday croons over 12 tracks, recorded over five sessions in 1956 and 1957, showcasing a more restrained vocal style that pierces clearly through and despite pharyngeal ills.
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