Description

Elton John would love the new Natasha Blackwood record, “Ease Back”. Having always had a great ear for well-crafted songs spread over an album as varied as it is diverse, Elton would be pleased with reminisences and shadows of past masters like Laura Nyro, Phoebe Snow and Ann Mortifee that Ms. Blackwood exihibits on her solo debut.
With a likely unintentional nod to the sounds of the early/mid 1970’s, “Ease Back” has the perfect ‘little bit of everything’ goin’ on. If this slice of wax was a meal, the plate would excite and tantalize the taste buds with its many flavours and colours. And her band truly gets it.
Opening with the wisfully tender, “Triage” followed by the poppy, “Are You The Light” through to the punchy “What I’d Give” and swaggering “Small Talk”, Blackwood wastes no time expressing her multi-faceted sensibilities and many talents.
“Scifi And Sad Songs” has a luscious jaunty, jazzy vibe while the title track takes it one step further with its playful, coy melody and lyric. The album closes beautifully and simply perfectly with a proper swan song and her artistic sisters from Eastern Owl providing idyllic vocal support.
This is arguably one of the best contemporary singer/songwriter albums released in the past few year. In a province rich with a multitude of great women artists, Natasha Blackwood is a force to be reckoned with.