Article summary

Piece By Piece--the second album from Georgia-born chanteuse cum naturalised Brit, Katie Melua, and the successor to her multi-million selling Call Off The Search--begins teasingly with the soft-peddled "come hither" jazz flirtations of "Shy Boy" and concludes with the whispering philosophical torch song resignation of "I Do Believe In Love". The two songs represent opposite ends of the emotional spectrum--sultry and kittenish on the one hand, solitary and ruminative on the other--but they also offer clues that the cutesy, crazy, easy listening Melua of Mike Batt's mentorship may be gradually acceding to the full bloom of self-determined musical adulthood. Melua's songs are often the more fretful and organic, the ghostly title track and the lovely "I Cried for You" are especially recommended, while the bluesier numbers (particularly the cover of the classic "Blues In The Night") seem shoehorned-in gratuitously to match an anticipated demographic. Batt's contributions are melodic, memorably buoyant and childlike, the Chinese-flavoured "Nine Million Bicycles" and the naggingly catchy "Halfway Up The Hindu Kush" are both charming despite their naive, pseudo-ethnicity and currently offer, particularly when compared to something as ponderously wooly as "Spider's Web", a necessary fun counterbalance to Melua's burgeoning compositional skills.

At this stage, Piece By Piece fits together nicely like a little jigsaw puzzle. And even if it didn't, Melua would still sound simply ambrosial singing from a washing machine repair manual. --Kevin Maidment

More to Explore

See more music by Katie Melua	Call off the Search (For Piano, Voice & Guitar)	Call off the Search (CD + DVD)	On The Road Again ~ Katie Melua (DVD)
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Customer's review

Mmm ... nice

This is so mellow and dreamy. A perfect accompaniment to a 'deep' mood. Only don't listen to it whilst driving or operating heavy machinery as you'll probably find yourself falling asleep! Oh, and she has the most adorable chin cleft, not that it's evident just from listening to her singing, though. I think listening to this has cheered me up. It might work for you too!

She ain't heavy

I like to see and listen to Katie Melua, she's a lovely looking girl with a fabulous singing voice - but jazz? R&B? No, no, no. She probably has the capacity to sing R&B but for the moment she's either been wrongly compartmentalised in terms of genre, or she's just trespassing. I hate the term 'easy listening', it brings back memories of The Carpenters or somesuch, but how else could you categorise Katie? Nice, inoffensive, pleasant she may be but she's just too 'light' to have the earthiness of a true jazz singer, nor the huskiness of late-night rhythm and blues. That's how I see it anyway. I've listened to this album countless times so I would have to concede that I like it, but if my mates came round I would quickly whip it out of the CD player and put something less embarrassing on. Something very nice to listen to while alone, be it at home or in the car, and immaculately produced to bring out the best in a good hi-fi system, but she's in need of a different song-writer and producer if she really wants to sing the blues.

The Melua the merrier.

A diabolically interesting first attempt at a sophomore record - my interest was piqued at hearing her on the wireless and has remained piqued for the previous 3 years hence. Simply what can be said of her voice? Seriously, what can you say? Well, I can say that I conclude that she has one and she most certainly is not afraid to use it, communicating the human condition with an almost Brechtian alacrity (as described by my world-weary osteopath, Dr Peter Wiggins).

Although the producer and writer of these songs is more famous for writing the theme tune to Richard 'rabbit-exterminator-in-real-life' Adams' 'Watership Down' ("A song about a rabbit, written by a Batt" - D. Winton), this is most certainly not a terrifying odyssey of some mammals moving to greener pastures. It's a bit more pleasant than that.

An Artist with better things to come

To this 70 year old seasoned record collector, and lover of good voclalists, Katie Melua comes as a breath of fresh air amongst so much dross that passes for music today. She looks good, and she sounds good, which makes for a splendid combination. There is however one problem. She is worthy of better material than she tackles. Most of it will be long forgotten, before Ms. Melua, who I hope and believe, will eventaully move into the standard repertoire. Indeed, there is a small sign here of here making that leap, by the inclusion of 'Blues in the Night', which is far and away the best track on this CD. The tune is much much older than Ms. Melua, and has proved it's durablity. Let us hope that in the future, she will explore tunes by Gershwin, Rodgers & Hart, Cole Porter etc., because that is where her true talent lies. Four stars then for her voice, but apart from the track I have mentioned, the rest is just not in the same league

not as good as CALL OFF THE SEARCH.

Not strictly a bad album and it does grow on you regarding certain songs but comparing to CALL OFF THE SEARCH, this in comparison is a bit dissapointing-So in conclusion worth a listen but I wouldant personally recommend as a brilliant must have album.
Get katie at her best with CALL OFF THE SEARCH which i find absolutely brilliant.

Piece By Piece

Article summary

Customer's review

Mmm ... nice

She ain't heavy

The Melua the merrier.

An Artist with better things to come

not as good as CALL OFF THE SEARCH.

Related article

Call Off the Search

Pictures

Call Off the Search [Special Bonus Edition] [CD + DVD]

Come Away with Me

Eye to the Telescope

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