Description
Blue on Blue is the solo debut album by the American singer Leigh Nash of Sixpence None the Richer fame, independently released on One Son Records in August 2006, manufactured and marketed by Nettwerk Records. The album was recorded and mixed by Pierre Marchand and Borza Ghomeshi at Marchand’s barn in Milles Isles in Quebec, Canada; with Marchand producing.
The following year Leigh Nash contributed lead vocals and lyrics to the debut album by electronic music group Fauxliage.
Blue on Blue, the debut solo album from the former lead singer of Sixpence None the Richer, is basically a natural evolution of her years honing her craft. The result is a very light and melodic record brimming with tight but not overly produced tracks that would fare well alongside Sarah McLachlan and Natalie Merchant, especially on the pretty opener «Along the Wall» that has sweet harmonies. She also manages to steal the spotlight with her soft, steady pipes on the tender midtempo and somewhat melancholic «Nervous in the Light of Dawn» that sounds like she’s covering something by Stevie Nicks. A slight orchestral flair accenting the tune doesn’t hurt either. Leigh Nash makes the melding of roots and folk with pop quite well judging by the cheerful toe-tapper «My Idea of Heaven» with its quaint melody and reggae-like vibe running underneath the song. The first ballad is the Coldplay-ish «Ocean Size Love» that has her sounding like a cross between Norah Jones and Dolly Parton with better than expected results. The biggest asset the album has is that there are no peaks, mainly because there are no valleys, with «Never Finish» being another surprising nugget of radio-friendly, adult contemporary pop. The first track that is at best adequate is «Between the Lines», which sounds like it has fallen through the cracks somewhat, a rather run-of-the-mill pop tune. A better effort is the cute «Angel Tonight» that brings to mind Michelle Branch or Vanessa Carlton in some respects, while she rocks out a bit with the edgier «Blue». The album concludes with «Just a Little», which has a distinct lullaby quality to it in the vein of the Beatles.
For my money Leigh Nash has one of the best, and most immediately recognisable, voices on the whole American CCM scene and her eerily other-worldly contributions to those Sixpence None The Richer classics will be getting an airing on the Cummings’ stereo as long as the Cummings have a stereo. So Leigh’s solo debut doesn’t disappoint. Producer Pierre Marchand has wisely plumped for laid back, fairly stripped-down organic accompaniments allowing that voice to drift and soar and purr across piano, acoustic guitars and, on the song «Nervous In The Light Of Dawn», duduk. The songs themselves are predominantly mid-tempo and slow with lyrics (largely penned by Leigh) making their point without Bible sloganeering nor obscure poetic metaphor. So on «Just A Little» she advises “wipe your eyes, you can’t have rainbows without rain” while the first single «My Idea Of Heaven» has the observation “my idea of heaven is lying here with you” which won’t please bibliophiles but is the perfect hook to a summery, country-tinged (I’m sure I can hear a lap steel though one isn’t credited) confection which sound like it’s a cert to get Whispering Bob Harris airplay. Strong in melody and with a wonderfully relaxed vibe, this isn’t the stuff of teenage radio hits, unless of course mainstream radio decides it’s time for another «Kiss Me». But ‘Blue On Blue’ is still a mellow gem. [Tony Cummings, Cross Rhythms, August 2006]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/blue-on-blue/1017618799)
CD tracklist:
01. Along The Wall – 4:30
02. Nervous In The Light Of Dawn – 4:40
03. My Idea Of Heaven – 4:05
04. Ocean Size Love – 4:58
05. Never Finish – 3:44
06. Between The Lines – 4:07
07. More Of It – 3:09
08. Angel Tonight – 3:17
09. Blue – 3:32
10. Cloud Nine – 3:47
11. Just A Little – 4:01
“My Idea Of Heaven” (MUSIC VIDEO)
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