fri 29/03/2024

CD: Petula Clark – Lost in You | reviews, news & interviews

CD: Petula Clark – Lost in You

CD: Petula Clark – Lost in You

Covering too many bases makes it too safe for the iconic singer

Petula Clark's 'Lost in You': not sure of what it is

“Cut Copy me”, the opening track of Petula Clark’s first British studio album in six years, is beautiful. It could have been created by Saint Etienne at their most melancholy. Her voice almost a whisper, it’s the sound of shadows and uncertainty even with what sounds like a light touch of autotune. The title track follows. Similarly assured, it’s sparse and centred around a rippling piano. Then a by-rote, in-the-shadow-of-Adele version of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" breaks the spell.

Accompanying “Crazy” are versions of “Imagine”, “Love me Tender”, Gershwin’s “He Loves and She Loves” and a distanced, downbeat, pointless reworking of her own “Downtown”. Getting crazy about any of these retreads is hard. The album could have been a restatement, showcasing Clark's voice on new songs as classy as those she came to world-wide prominence with in the Sixties. Instead, Lost in You isn't sure of what it is.

Of the new songs, “Reflections” has a Lloyd Webber feel, while the sensitive “Next to You” evokes the understated grandeur of Michel Legrand. Petula Clark, of course, has always been as much about the stage, cinema and standards as pop, but in covering too many bases and shoehorning in the cover versions, Lost in You is not coherent. What would it have been with a Danger Mouse (the man behind Gnarls Barkley), a Mark Ronson or even a Jack White in the producer’s chair?

For another take on the album, head across La Manche where its prototytpe was issued last year. Petula also featured “Cut Copy Me” and some of the same graphics. It also included the terrific Philly-disco shuffler “Hang Tight” which, had it also been exported from France, would have brought a much-needed lift to the too-safe Lost in You.

Visit Kieron Tyler’s blog

Petula Clark performs 'I Couldn't Live Without Your Love'

Comments

What a really poor review, This album which I have just got today 25th. Is full of gems. The re-working of Downtown is very thought provoking, Crazy works really well and for the first time I took full notice of the words. Imagine and Love Me Tender puts to rights as to being songs she should have recorded years ago. Never Enough,co written by Petula is a great track This album is great proof that even at 80 years of age, Petula still has loads to offer. What a really miserable and down beat review above that is far from being even accurate in my opinion. This album is as varied and as good as many others that are released by singers a third of Pet's age. Well done Petula and welcome back too.

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