After the very beautiful live ‘Songs from the Road’ released in 2017, this is still a public recording offered by ‘Layla Zoe’ with ‘Retrospectives Tour 2019’. This time, it's an hour and 45 minutes of happiness with this great artist who proposes to us a completely different set from the previous live, only ‘Backstage Queen’ being performed in the two albums. We thus find this emotional force which she knows how to transmit in these unique moments by starting with a stripped down 'She Didn't Believe' from her last album ’Gemini’ which she shares with 'Krissy Matthews' in a real fusion between his voice and the electric guitar and it is impossible to remain indifferent to so much authenticity and generosity.
The set is divided between energetic compositions like 'Leave You For Good', 'Someday', 'Never Met a Man Like You' or even 'Ghost Train' in which she excels with her communicative energy and her magnificent groove and others quieter which are undoubtedly those in which Layla reveals her soul the most and gives us goosebumps like in 'Don't Wanna Hurt Nobody', 'Black Oil' or the last title 'I Shall Be Released' which ends the concert as it started, in a hushed atmosphere sweating a palpable emotion. But what also emerges from this opus, in addition to the wonderful performance of Layla on the whole concert, is that she never pulls the cover to her and that she leaves great freedom to the artists who accompany with memorable instrumental sections in the majority of tracks, whether it be 'Krissy Matthews' on guitar or 'Paul Jobson' on keyboards.
In summary, as you will have understood, 'Retrospectives Tour 2019' is yet another very emotional album which highlights a great lady of the blues as much by her vocals who cannot leave marble even the most insensitive people but also by her generosity to give the place they deserve to his musicians which makes it a magnificent album both vocally as well as instrumental... | |
