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Robin McKelle

Introducing...

Candid CCD 79996

'The Forties: I was born to be in that time, I swear¡' is singer Robin McKelle's comment on the nostalgic atmosphere that permeates her debut recording, and there are indeed numerous musical reminders of the swing-band singer's heyday throughout this immediately appealing album.

McKelle's voice is most obviously inspired by Ella Fitzgerald: first and foremost, what you hear is the song, impeccably presented, faultlessly sung, occasionally tastefully embellished, but never over-interpreted or used merely as a springboard either for vocal gymnastics or the display of personal emotion.

This is not to suggest that McKelle is not affecting Õ her strings-backed 'For All We Know', for instance, is suitably touching Õ but simply that her clear priority is to showcase what she calls 'these wonderful love stories between men and women'.

Versatile enough to infuse the likes of 'Bei Mir Bist Du Schon' or 'I've Got the World on a String' with appropriate pep, float tastefully over the Basie-like chug of, say, 'The Lamp is Low', or go for broke on the album's opener, 'Something's Gotta Give', McKelle does a great job of setting out her stall on Introducing¡; refreshingly free from the apparently obligatory contemporary 'classic' and concentrating entirely on the standard's golden age, this album is unashamedly directed at those who like their classic songs respectfully addressed, their settings punchy but unshowily informal. Championed as she is by Michael Parkinson, McKelle (deservedly) looks set for celebrity.