Cassandra Wilson – New Moon Daughter – Pure Pleasure Records 180g 2 LP Vinyl

Cassandra Wilson’s own excellent, jazz tinged compositions sit alongside a stunning set of ingenious covers from a highly diverse spectrum of composers. “Last Train To Clarksville” is transformed from a catchy pop song into a stripped-down and genuinely effective jazz vocal work-out. “Harvest Moon” slows down Neil Young’s already wistful ballad to an almost painful level and, in so doing, takes it to an even higher level of gentle reflection. Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” & U2’s “Love Is Blindness” are transformed into 3 in the morning jazz club classics. The vocals and backing to Robert Johnson’s “32-20” are simplified to the point where only the essence of the blues is allowed to shine and, Lewis Allan’s “Strange Fruit” becomes as desolate and challenging as it’s horrific lyrics. Clever, very effective and worth the required effort!

Track Listings

Side A :
1. Strange Fruit
2. Love Is Blindness
3. Solomon Sang
Side B:
1. Death Letter
2. Skylark
3. Find Him
4. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
Side C:
1. Last Train To Clarksville
2. Until
3. A Little Warm Death
Side D:
1. Memphis
2. Harvest Moon
3. 32-20