It's been a good few months for our favourite ladies here at Wrinkly Towers. Having already enjoyed Chantel's company in January and that of Beth Hart in February, we had the pleasure of Erja Lyytinen debuting her new album 'Smell the Roses' in early April. Then, our pilgrimage to New Orleans Jazz Fest enabled us to see not only Samantha Fish debuting tracks from her new album ‘Paper Doll’ during a blistering performance but also the wonderfully precocious talent of 18 year old Grace Bowers (a YouTube rabbit hole discovery quite some time ago that I was delighted to ratify with a live performance).

And now is Chantel's turn again. Tonight sees the launch of her new album, 'The Healing'. Arguably her first release since 2015's sophomore offering 'Lose Control' with just the Covid-period ‘Shed Sessions Vols 1 & 2’ (mostly acoustic covers with a few re-workings of originals inspired by/taken from Chantel's livestreams during that period) released in 2021. As good as the Shed Sessions were, it's been a long wait for new material for seasoned Chantel watchers.

But first, an additional treat in the form of the excellent Blue Nation.

I first became aware of Blue Nation at this very venue (again opening for Chantel) in September 2023 when I realised very quickly upon my late arrival I'd made a schoolboy error and really should have put in more effort to get there in time for the whole show. After cursing myself for this oversight, I then caught their entire set a few weeks later at a woefully under attended show playing with the brilliant (and under appreciated) Eliana Cargnelutti at the Half Moon in Putney.

I've been banging on to AJ ever since about how much I think he'd like them... he's certainly partial to a bit of Bluesy power trio. I was gratified to see my favourable opinion endorsed by their securing of the 'Emerging Act of The Year' accolade at this year's UK Blues Awards a month or two ago. And once again tonight, Neil Murdoch (guitar/vocals), Luke Weston (bass/vocals) and Nick Sharman (drums) excelled; powering through a massively enjoyable, compelling set of 45 mins or so with additional inter-track charm and wit thrown in for free before set closer ‘Down by the River’ had the crowd singing enthusiastically. Long may the accolades and their current upward trajectory continue.

After a seemingly very brief interval during which we basically continued to agree how good Blue Nation were, Chantel took the stage with Thom Gardner (drums) and Colin Sutton (bass) and also regular collaborator Jamie Brooks on keyboards, who gained a little infamy on his last visit to the 100 Club by shockingly asking for Chantel's guitar to be turned down :-)

With little ado, the band powered through ‘I Will Breathe’ and ‘Broken Heartless Liar’, the first two tracks from new album, ‘The Healing’. Indeed with seven or so oldies (including the evergreens of ‘Eternal Dream’ and ‘April’) interspersed to break things up (possibly for the band as well as the audience), we were actually treated to all eight tracks from the new album.

I had deliberately avoided trying to listen to any of the new album before the gig, wanting the face-slap of a live hearing before then listening to the studio work in a more considered way. And I have to say, I was not disappointed. Aided by really good sound on the night, all of the new tracks played really well. Chantel came across as rightfully proud of the new material if perhaps a little nervous at presenting it for the first time, but with Gardner and Sutton continuing their respective roles of the recording, the entire performance was tight and polished.

Chantel's interviews with Pete Feenstra (featured as a Podcast Of The Day on this website) and in this months Classic Rock, pointed towards a more Proggy general direction. The new tracks are definitely a bit different stylistically to those we know from ‘Like No Other’ and ‘Lose Control’ but with her voice and playing they are still undeniably Chantel, with pretty much every track featuring an exceptionally well-crafted solo.

I don't think I've got musical or literary chops to describe it accurately or correctly, but every track feels ...fuller than before; the sound is deeper and more complex (for which on the recording at least some of the credit of course goes to the production team) yet each song is so well constructed.. but with deeper lyrical themes of loss, fear, recovery..more serious, more ...grown up.

Direction changes or even tweaks sometimes don't work... but this one does. It’s still Chantel. But better.

Plenty of dates left on this tour; you'd be very well advised to get along to at least one of them. And no disrespect to any other of Chantel's opening acts, but get to one of the next six or so and you get Blue Nation too ☺

Mark C

Photos: Chris Griffiths

Blue Nation
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Hand Me Down
Gimme Some Time
Ordinary People
The Ranger
Time is a Thief
Run Straight Ahead
Once in My Life
Strangers
Every Single Time
Echos
Down By The River

Chantel
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I Will Breathe
Broken Heartless Liar
Eternal Dream
Stand On My Own
Walk on Land
Your Fever
Take the Power
Tears
Burn Your Anger
Echoes
Undercover
Creep
April
Truth Will Out
The Healing