Cleveland Lounge, 1996
So while I'm technically talking about this one album by the band Cleveland Lounge, I'm really talking about the sublime singer Zoe Ellis. I've been listening to her sing all my adult life (and, as I believe I'm mentioned before on here, I'm kinda old), and she's never been anything less than a pure unalloyed wonder. Her tone is raw silk dragging over your forearm, her delivery full of passion and depth, her singing style just always right - somehow more divine by being so rooted to the earth.
I never got to see her perform with this band Cleveland Lounge - apparently they weren't together all that long. I have heard her perform a couple of the songs in other settings, though, and the album does a very nice job of featuring her voice. There's a certain sameness to a few of the tunes; they have that "quiet storm" radio-ready feel. Great musicianship, well thought-out arrangements, just nothing too raw or exposed here. "Drowning" (the only song available now, as a single on itunes) is the signature song, full of all the operatic grace and emotional realness I associate with Zoe Ellis - really nice vocal counterpoint at the end too. "Mood Swing," another favorite, has a stripped-down minimalist arrangement, and her voice is hushed, warm, and sort of clipped in places - perfect evocation of the lyrics, which are about the ease of slipping from love to obsession. "Someday" has a more upbeat, hopeful sound (almost, but not quite, ruined by the lame keyboard stabs on the verses), with the beautiful ascending lines you don't find often in pop music. And "Need to Know" is the closest to purely rocking out that can be found on this album.
Really amazing stuff. If you live in the Bay Area, you simply must listen to this singer live at every opportunity. If you don't, and you can get your hands on this album, at least you'll get a taste.
itunes link:
3 comments:
I know this is an old blog post, I'm not too hopeful for a response any time soon either.
My question is, did you actually get a hold of the "Full Cleveland" album by Cleveland Lounge itself? I can't seem to find any mention of a real release on Wikipedia, or anywhere on the US Amazon or eBay marketplaces. It IS seemingly available, but only by import from Japan. It seems like the release was extremely limited by the Moonshine music label.
It's no huge deal though. I've first been enthralled by the famous Dave Audé & AK1200 remixes of "Drowning" mainly. When I first got the CD single, I also thoroughly enjoyed the Original as well, thus, here I am now, trying to track down the original full length album. Listening to that track takes me back to more carefree days I suppose, the beginning of a new millennium, high hopes. That sort of thing I suppose.
Anyway, thank you!
I'm responding two years later to let you know that the album can be ordered from Japan! Check Amazon for it. :-)
Seeing this post many years late. I just dropped "Full Cleveland" into my CD Player this morning. I've had this disc since about 1998. I think I paid about $30 for it from a Japanese seller on ebay. It is worth 3 times that amount. I have loved everything about this disc since I got my first taste. I have no idea how/why this was never released to the Acid Jazz crowds of UK and USA in the 90's. It is better than any disc from that genre including every Brand New Heavies release (which is saying something). Why only the "Drowning" single for major release? "Full Cleveland" is a 5 out of 5 for musicianship, arrangements and production. Zoe Ellis is fantastic.
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