EILEEN JEWELL – QUEEN OF THE MINOR KEY

“I don’t take aim, I just bang, bang, bang” – that may be the way of some of the men in Eileen Jewell’s life (past, present or future), but it is not the approach Jewell has taken on Queen of the Minor Key. These tracks are all carefully considered, constructed and produced. From the torch song to the honky tonk via many a smoke-filled bar room in between Jewell live sup to the albums title. The band, led by the talented Jerry Miller, require special mention for their deft touches: be it the sad and slow Only One, the 12 bar surf instrumental Kalimotxo or the rockabilly twang of the title track, their ability to adapt allows Jewell to shine across a number of stages, showing her versatility as a songwriter and singer. While the minor key is known amongst writers as the key of sadness, Jewell manages to bring plenty of light to her tunes. Hers is a voice that sits somewhere between old school country and the blues, and this is one of the rare albums that manages this blend to greater effect. Timeless.

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