The Whale. Chantal Acda

Chantal Acda returns to the blog with her new album The Whale. With her voice the Dutch-Belgian singer has found a soft spot with me. Yet, with The Whale she has gone a next level with me. This album is in many ways different where the music is concerned. And then that voice. It's a golden combination.

Chantal Acda must have found it necessary to change a few things. Has changing record label led to the ability to change? I don't know, but fact is, she's rocking in quite a few songs, while she has not forgotten the jazzy, more introspective side of her oeuvre. The result is an album that is varies between styles in a very pleasant way.

Not all has changed. Take the single 'Hit The Verge'. This slow and lingering song seems able to lengthen, stretch time, like a Sunday morning can, when there's no need to do anything for a change. All the instruments and the singer take their time in playing and singing. The result is jazzy song of great beauty. At the same time it pays off to listen really closely as far more is happening in the music underneath Acda's voice and the instruments that stand out most, piano, drums and horns.

Compare that to the final song's intro, 'Make It Happen'. It is almost impossible and unfair to compare 'Make It Happen' to Tramhaus' song with the same title, but by comparison, Chantal Acda's is far more impactful because of the contrast with her other songs and the verse following the intro. Again, musically this song is so rich. As listener you are changing position and impression the whole of the time. With the rocking 'Heads' as torch barer. What an energetic and mysterious song. Besides that, it is as if Traffic's Chris Wood was raised from the dead for this song. 

The other songs on The Whale are somewhat between these extremes. Fans of old will recognise enough to be pleased and may be challenged to follow Chantal Acda down a few new roads. For me this approach works perfectly. I already liked her albums of the past few years and with The Whale I have moved to a new level of appreciation. When all is said and done, I'm more of a rocker than an easy listening kind of guy. The Whale appeals to both sides of the equation.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order The Whale here:

https://chantalacda.bandcamp.com/album/chantal-acda-the-whale