Prozac and Whimsy

I’ll be honest from the off there is precisely one reason why I initially checked this album out and that’s a suprise Lanegan, and we all know how much I love one of them. Three years after his death his beautiful growl croons away on an achingly tender version of Can’t Help Falling In Love. Even though it is chopped together with studio magic Mark and Chrissie make a beautiful easy listening duo.

And that tells you everything you need to know about the album really, it’s songs you’ll already know and maybe love with Chrissie’ distinctive vocal take and a list of seemingly random guests along for the ride.

It all kicks off with K.D. Lang joining in on Me & Mrs  Jones,  a perfect opener that makes you long for the Billy Paul original. But not Bublé. Never. Never, ever Bublé.

Not even at Christmas.

Next comes the already mentioned suprise Lanegan. A track  that’ll make you want to dig out his 2013 Imitations album of covers all done in the same sort of vein.

There’s no truly bad songs on here which is a suprise seeing as Julian Lennon is on one of them but I will say that Debbie Harry’ appearance feels a little wasted on Try To Sleep, even if I can’t think what song they should have done together instead.

The highlights are K.D. Lang, Mark Lanegan (obviously) Cat Powers doing First Of The Gang To Die. Rufus Wainwright’ take on Always On My Mind  and then Brandon Flowers with Not In Love. Each and every song compliments Chrissie’ and they all flow and float along nicely.

The strongest point of this album is possibly its weakest as well. It’s so beautifully, painfully, Sunday morning Radio 2 it makes me want to change the bedding and get a roast on. It’s inoffensive background music done to absolute perfection.

If she was on Jools Holland promoting this she’d be maybe second on after the latest popular beat combo but before the weird folk band you’ve never heard of. It wouldn’t be a shock to see her on Strictly Come Dancing on that results show where they pretend it is Sunday and not prerecorded the night before.

But despite all that it’s great, play it while you’re cooking or chilling with a bottle of wine and a good book.