There’s a small space in my office that’s reserved for special recordings – some are new favorites, some are ‘old friends’ rediscovered, and few of them are unreleased demos.
One of these – a silver disc with the word ‘Basia’ handwritten across its face found its way to this hallowed area during the summer of 2008. It contains a handful of songs from the list below, all before the ‘final mix’ stage and all unnamed. Basia and Danny White were seeking a US label for the album, and were thoughtful to send me an early preview.
Ultimately, the honor went to Koch Records, which released ‘It’s That Girl Again’ and its first single ‘Blame It On the Summer’ in March 2009.
In some ways it’s hard to believe that this is Basia’s first studio album since 1994 (time flies…) but for fans of the Polish pop star, this album has been received with overwhelming enthusiasm.
Getting reacquainted doesn’t take long: Basia’s trademark vocals, catchy uplifting lyrics and surprising arrangements wrapped up in her silky Latin/Bossa style make for an easy introduction to this new batch of songs.
And while it’s true that a decade and a half is way too long between albums for one of my favorite singers, Basia’s timing couldn’t have been better: Spend some time with this album and then pause to look around the landscape of the pop music scene these days.
Then, go back to the ‘Play’ button once more. Nice to have her back.
Other Voices
From the label:
Basia is emerging with her strongest work yet, It's That Girl Again, an album that brings her trademark global pop/jazz sound into today. From the first track "If Not Now Then When" - the bouncing melody, soaring horns, and the feeling that you've landed in a small fiesta - it's as though she has never been away. Basia and her collaborator Danny White have always drawn from timeless influences: the rhythms and styles of Latin music, the sound of classic American soul and R&B, and the polish of '50s and '60s jazz; yet the sound is undeniably fresh. There is nothing about this album that is stuck in the past, rather it presses forward, building upon their many accomplishments during the course of their career.
Poland-native Basia Trzetrzelewska was introduced as a vocalist with the group Matt Bianco and hits "Get Out of Your Lazy Bed," "More Than I Can Bear" and "Half A Minute." She and the group's main composer, keyboardist Danny White, departed to begin work on their debut, Time and Tide. The album was successful throughout Europe and Japan, but it took some adventurous D.J.s to import the album to a new radio audience stateside. The buzz led to Time and Tide's official US release and three Adult Contemporary hits there ("Promises," "New Day For You," "Time and Tide"). Basia proved unique, defying categories and appealing to a wide audience. This versatility earned her two consecutive number one Billboard Contemporary Jazz albums upon the release of the follow-up, London Warsaw New York, which topped that chart for most of 1990. A second tour full of sold-out marquees followed, pushed by the breakout success of the single "Cruising For Bruising," and resulting in a second platinum record.
A more vivid portrait of the artists emerged with 1994's The Sweetest Illusion as a more organic sound was developed, with a full band and a deeper variety of musical texture. Once again their appeal continued across genre lines as "Drunk On Love" became a #1 Billboard Club Play hit while The Sweetest Illusion rode the pop album chart. The resulting world tour culminated in a two-week run on Broadway, recorded for the live album Basia on Broadway.
Danny, along with guitarist/vocalist Mark Reilly, pulled Basia back into the fray to recast their early sound for the 2004 Matt Bianco album Matt's Mood. The collaboration combined pop, swing, Latin, lounge and spy-soundtrack sounds to great effect, and when on tour they were met with enthusiastic response from a loyal, dedicated fan base thrilled to see Basia back in action. The encouraging reaction gave birth to a fruitful creative period leading up to It's That Girl Again.
The songs on It's That Girl Again reprise Basia's global pop sound, fusing stick-in-your-head-for-days melodies with complex arrangements that don't overshadow the heartfelt lyrics or stunning instrumentation. Each song is a dedication to someone in Basia's life, though her narratives describe characters many can relate to. The musical backing is inspired and inventive, taking the listener to surprising places. "If Not Now Then When" is the perfect reintroduction to the Basia sound, with an irresistible melody, romantic lyrics and lively percussion. The honest confession of first single "A Gift" is set to a lilting melody framed by acoustic guitars, and "Someone for Everyone" sees Danny pulling out all the stops with piano, gospel-tinged organ and keyboard. "Everybody's On The Move" jets in with an upbeat rock feel while "There's A Tear" is a plaintive ballad recalling Stevie Wonder's 80s love songs.
Intensity reigns in the sharp tango of "Love Lies Bleeding" and within the stunning "I Must" as a measured verse surprisingly explodes into a chorus out of a Bond film chase scene. "Blame It On The Summer" is an ideal warm-weather chill-out track while the multilayered vocals of "Two Islands" give way to an island feel that counters the tender subject matter. The lighthearted "Winners" brings to mind the joy of Carnaval, and the smooth polish of "They Know Nothing About Us" highlights Basia's emphatic lyric. "Amelki Smiech" celebrates new life with a raucous party scene and buoyant heart that defies language, leading nicely into the evocative title track.
