Hazel O'Connor - Here She Comes

The third album to emerge from Hazel O’Connor’s three-way collaboration with saxophonist Clare Hirst (The Belle Stars, Bowie) and pianist Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) Here She Comes is a mix of newly-written originals and well-chosen covers. With her raspy but still-powerful voice, it’s an impressive studio performance, yielding several highlights.

Of the originals, the latin-tinged ‘Don’t You Call Me Darling’ and sensuous slow-burner ‘Still Of The Night’ stand out. The sassy, soulful ‘I Call Out Your Name’ boasts an incredible atmosphere, complete with meandering sax, reminiscent of classic ballad ‘Will You’. Of the covers, O’Connor’s take on the Billie Holiday standard ‘Good Morning Heartache’ captures the essence of the original while she offers a dramatic reading of Jacques Brel classic ‘Ne Me Quitte Pas’ (If You Go Away), sung impressively in French. A version of Lou Reed’s ‘Perfect Day’ doesn’t veer too far from the original, but fits with the spirit of the album, which closes on a high note in the form of the gospel-inspired ‘Home’.