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HIDDEN HEART Irish reviews
Hidden Heart was in Hot Press's 2005 TOP 10 of Folk Albums
The online review from Hot Press -Hazel O'Connor
Hidden Heart
(Invisible Hands)
02 Nov 2005
On Hidden Hearts opening track, Acoustically Yours, Hazel O’ Connor could well be auditioning for Shane’s spot in The Pogues, such is the sturdiness and earthy expression of her voice on a track that combines Irish melodies with an eastern feel to marvellous effect.
The touching I’ll See You Again also has a solid rhythmic pulse, on which O’ Connor’s voice veers towards a more maidenly approach. Who Will Care? meanwhile is an aching and thought-provoking song about the drug overdose of a friend.
Some delicious bluesy organ playing brightens up the solid Loveable, Perfect Days has an urgent rhythm to it, and Moya Brennan adds her trademark presence to the wistful Hidden with its echoes of the restrained side of Sinéad O’ Connor. The duet with Rob Reynolds in Tell Me Why could be a real winner too.
All twelve songs are at least part-penned by Hazel, and Cormac de Barra¹s electric harp is a regular and moving presence, especially on the Indian-bodhrán influenced End Of My Days.
Martin Rushent’s production keeps the focus on the tunes and O’ Connor’s songs make a cohesive blend for an album that works as a total musical experience best sampled whole.
Jackie Hayden
Rating: 7 / 10
and more...
“Hazels puts her own spin on traditional music in the good company ofMoya Brennan and master harpist Cormac De Barra… its primal and raw in
places sounding like Marianne Faithful backed by Kila… the stand out track is ‘Who Will Care”
Danny McElhinney, Ireland on Sunday November 6th
“That unmistakeable burnt rasp of a voice sounds just as good on the
folkier numbers here as it does on more mainstream offerings like the soulful ‘Tell Me Why’ sung as a duet with labelmate Rob Reynolds and ‘If Only’ featuring Tony Dangerfield of the Subterraneans”
Sarah McQuaid, Evening Herald November 3rd
and now for some slightly older reviews...
Hazel O'Connor
Hazel O'Connor is breaking new ground with her stage show
"Beyond the Breaking Glass"
"Five star performance." The Guardian
In words and music, Eighties icon Hazel O'Connor takes us on an emotional journey from her childhood, through her triumphs and tribulations of the Eighties right up to the present day. Her candid and moving account details the highs and lows of a career that had her catapulted into stardom after gaining the starring role in the film "Breaking Glass". Hit songs followed, but so did the problems.
Having now returned to her Celtic roots and demonstrating, throughout her performances, a philosophy that has marked her out as a truly great survivor, Hazel reenacts scenes from her past and performs many of her self-penned songs with musicians Cormac DeBarra and Mario N'Goma, including the hits Will You, Eighth Day, Blackman and Decadent Days.
"The show was the highlight of The Edinburgh Festival." The Scotsman
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY
‘Beyond Breaking Glass establishes Hazel O’Connor as much more than an 80’s icon. If you ever get the chance to see her, don’t think twice…just go!’ - Edinburgh Central Telegraph
‘Her voice is a female amalgam of Rod Stewart, Leonard Cohen and Tam White – with a touch of Eartha Kitt – but it remains her own, unique and unforgettable’. - The Scotsman
‘I felt I had seen a true artist perform, which is something you can’t say very often in these days of Steps and Spice’. - East Anglian Times
‘O’Connor’s superb singing voice and musicianship goes far beyond the punk style with which she made her name’. The Stage
‘She had the audience wrapped up in her pocket, as they enthusiastically demanded an encore’. –
The Backroom
‘In my wildest dreams I could never have imagined hearing Calls The Tune and Eighth Day accompanied by a harp – but it worked. …sell-out audience on their feet for three standing ovations… ‘ Jersey Evening Post
‘O’Connor is obviously going back to the folk origins of her balladry to remake herself as a singer,
after the terrible disappointments of stardom. It is certainly working.’ Irish Times
Further details from hazeloconnor@ireland.com
Hazel O'Connor
Beyond The Breaking Glass
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