Just when we need some new music for Spring and Summertime lunchtime alfresco dining, one little beauty comes along. It’s the new album from Deborah Conway and Willy Zygier, entitled Summertown.
Australian artists Conway and Zygier have composed all songs on the album and it is truly enjoyable - fresh, new, alive, vibrant, and happy.
Arrangements are beautifully constructed and the recording is an outstanding piece of engineering. A very crisp style of sound – the guitar and piano particularly convincing. Conway’s voice has been recorded in a very dry sense, which is appealing and appropriate. The lyrics are good and she articulates with precision.
The album is a combination of wistful ballads, full of passion and meaning, lots of up beat feel-good songs and medium paced quieter songs. Twelve tracks in all. A few real stand-outs for me include Try to Save Your Song, Any Fool, Sunday Morning, and Accidents Happen in the Home. Stylistically, you could say this music is country-rock.
This is something that you will want to play again and again. Your customers and staff will all enjoy it. It’s great summertime music and should help to put everyone in a great mood.
Tony’s rating: 4 stars
First published in Eat Drink Magazine, Nov 2004