Reviews

Artist: Tessa Bickers
Album:Chasing Shadows
Label:Self Released
Tracks: 11
Rating: ****
Contact:   http://www.myspace.com/tessabickers

This year has already been a fantastic year for bringing new singer/songwriters to my attention. It's amazing just what talent there is out there. A case in point is Tessa Bickers, who either wrote or co-wrote the Small Talk album "Breeze", her debut solo album, "Chasing Shaows", which is being reviewed here, during 2005 she still found inspiration enough to be back in the studio to work on the new album.
Tessa is a consumate writer performer who I'm realy looking forward to catching live later in the year. There are eleven good reasons for that and I'm listening to them again as I write this. Hopefully it will unlock the door to the club circuit as well as support slots.
Bickers seems to draw her from life's wide experience, equally at home focusing on the big issues that affect pretty much all of us and with macro level songs that can pull and tug at the individual level. There's many a song writer that can provoke a reaction with the serious life changing steps. It takes a special talent to make you care about the smaller stuff that on the surface doesn't seem important, but to the individual affected it's vitally important.
It's not just about the body of the song, the positions can be fond in a song. "In The Dark" Tessa's song about Gulf War Two works on so many levels. It's about society, it's about the right and wrongs and it's about how it affects the individual. It's not difficult to see why George Galloway's Respect party used the song to emphasise the injustice of that action
Tessa Bickers can be many things. She can be delicate, almost brittle, I think that if she want to she could make a song about spilt milk seem like a genuine tradgedy. Alternatively, she can be strong and assertive, this is not a songwriter that's going to let something slip off the hook for fear of offending people. Truth is a double edged sword and when she wants to use it, Bicker's is more than capable of using her words and music, to slide it neatly between the ribs. It's harsh, but fair. I even found myself wanting to shout out 'are you listening Tony Blair?'
Singer/Songwriters are very much my thing. I really admire the songsmith and their art. Setting words to music to bring a message home. There are many singer/songwriters that are highly entertaining, there are a good number that can move me. There are signifcantly less that are capable of doing both to a high degree. Tessa Bickers is in that small number.
Unfortuantely there is one thing that risks holding back Tessa Bickers and it's that old problem of doing it all yourself. "Chasing Shadows" is a very difficult album to get hold of. Hopefully the next one will be easier to find. If you want a copy of Chasing Shadows, and when you get the chance to hear for yourself via Tessa's Myspace page, e-mail her though her page and find out how you can get the money to her and she an album to you.
To move to cliche. "Chasing Shadows" is like a quality box of chocolates, wether you prefer plain, milk or white chocolate, your chocolates solid or filled. There will be something in this album for you and you can go away content in the knowledge that the chocolate's fair trade and no one has scimped on the alchol. Enjoy it, savour and remember just how the tastebuds were tantalised
One other quick one, why do people name an album after the second track on the album?
Tessa Bicker's is a rising star. If you're a booker for a club or have any spots available, get in touch with her. Tessa will also be one of the first artists that will be doing an exclusive interview for "Cambridge And Beyond" more news on that when it becomes available.
Chasing Shadows is now available for £6 from Tessa's new website www.tessabickers.com

Tessa has now recorded an interview for our "Talking To..." series