REVIEW: Eva Hillered “Take Me Home”

Eva Hillered – Take Me Home

I usually don’t agree with the consensus of what other writers compare an artist to or what a singer sounds like or closely resembles. However, I must agree that in some respects Eva Hillered does indeed have an early career persuasive Joni Mitchell style (“Take Me Home”) – but, on that title track there’s lots of intonation & tone closer to prime Petula Clark (“Downtown” “A Sign of the Times”) as well. Later, some pieces cruise into a Judy Collins finesse (“Horses” & “Water Is Life”).

The Stockholm, Sweden-based, Grammy-nominated singer has recorded 10 solo albums & is quite impressive with her new 7-song effort. This showcase, Take Me Home (Drops May 1/Hill Songs/28:27) was produced, in part, by Eva with Jerry Sillah (who also co-wrote the title tune with Eva), Ruben Engzell & Danish producer Peter Sund.

When she was a 13-year-old adolescent, Eva wrestled with depression until songwriting became her lifeline & dependable companion. Now with all the necessary expressiveness in her voice with a tinge of American country instincts (“Open It Up”) in some & a gentle homegrown Americana-roots attraction to her music, her interpretation of these genres is remarkably void of modern Nashville cliches & silliness. No beer songs, bar room brawls, pick-up truck odes & shooting paint cans off of fence posts.

One of the most compelling tracks is “Get Out of This House,” which is sung with a tinge of aggressiveness, anger & confidence. Eva asserts herself with this song that isn’t so much sung as dictated. There’s an attitude akin to the late Dory Previn, who often wrote her songs with a sharp pencil about subjects that affected her personally. A tour de force.

These songs aren’t heavy-handed, silly, or contrite & a few even border on a jazzier tradition (“Forgiveness” – a Patty Griffin cover). Eva’s narrative & performance is stellar with arrangements sharp & clean throughout the set. Her vocalizing is propulsive when required & it’s always self-assured. Did I leave anything out? Yes, Eva’s entertaining too.