Miss Tess – Cher Rêve
Miss Tess is an artist who has shown she can do everything well. She is a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose vocals make you sit up and take notice. Her sound is variable, often from one song to the next, with elements of country, jazz, and old-time rock ‘n roll.
The new album is described as “Nashville meets south Louisiana,” with Nashville being where Miss Tess calls home and south Louisiana being the recording location. Before even hearing a note of the album, the premise draws you in with that combination of two musical bastions of the south.
It doesn’t take long to discover that is an accurate description. “Ride that Train” (previously recorded on acoustic guitar with Thomas Bryan Eaton) is an upbeat number that showcases some of the best of Nashville and Louisiana. Like a lot of great songs from Nashville, it features pedal steel, and as you would expect from south Louisiana, it features accordion and fiddle. It’s the sort of song that makes you want to spread sawdust on a hardwood floor to make it easier for everyone to dance.
“Take It Easy” is another song transformed for this album and one that is sure to get you moving. The previous version is a rock n roll song that goes heavy on the piano. This one leans into the Louisiana sound and is powered by accordion and a beat that will get your feet moving. It’s a great song to add to your Mardi Gras playlist, and it’s infectious enough that you’ll want to keep it in rotation regardless of the time of year.
The Louisiana aspect of the album isn’t limited to Zydeco rhythms and accordion. Miss Tess sings two songs in French. “La Valse Sur Le Moment” is an easygoing Cajun waltz that will have you looking for a dance partner. It’s the sort of song you can expect a Cajun/Zydeco band to play to give both the musicians and the dancers a chance to catch their breath. “La Lune C’est un Cendrier” is a ballad that feels something like a lullaby and not just because it’s about the moon. The tempo is suitable for a lullaby, and the instrumentation in combination with the vocals is soothing.
“Lord, I Need Somebody Bad” is one that kind of diverges from the theme running throughout the album, but that’s not a bad thing. This is a soul song with piano and saxophone that will remind you of some great doo-wop songs.
The album promises a blend of Nashville and south Louisiana, and it certainly delivers that. It also features a variety of sounds, styles, and tempos, so the listener is never really sure what to expect next. That’s not entirely true. The album definitely has some constants. Namely, Miss Tess’s sweet vocals and the fact that every song is good regardless of the style. Cher Rêve will be available everywhere on February 7. Get your copy here (http://www.misstessmusic.com).