It’s been a few years in the making, but one of the most experienced musical performers in Greater Manchester has a new opportunity to establish her name.
New York-born, Whitefield-based Risa Hall has been a presence on the Manchester music scene for a considerable time now – you may have caught her making guest appearances on local radio, or at a recent headlining gig in the Met in Bury – and this album, released on Australian label Red Disc Records, could finally provide a platform for greater exposure.
For a singer who grew up with The Ramones before carving out a solid career in musicals, an album that swings through the genres and bristles with sassy professionalism is probably to be expected. There are touches of jazz mixed into pop songs and Americana-tinged rock numbers, with even a touch of prog detectable on But I Know Better.
Second Chances, the title track, has notched some respectable viewing figures on YouTube with its video, and represents a good summary of the album as a whole. A catchy chorus connected with a deceptively layered, sometimes country-flavoured orchestration, it’s a beguiling number that rewards repeated airings.
From the clean drumming and laidback beat underpinning Can’t Take Away to the twanging guitars of Shooting Stars, the aural landscape of Second Chances is ever-changing. Gentle songs like That I Want You float serenely along, while Candy Coated Hell jumps straight in the other direction with a driving rhythm reminiscent of the hard-edged rock bands from Risa’s native New York.
What holds the album together is Risa’s distinctive voice, an authentic American drawl full of attitude, and yet equally capable of capturing sweet melodies. Unique really is a fitting descriptions, as it manages to defy any comparison – too ballsy for your average winsome singer-songwriter, more versatile than an acoustic balladeer, it confounds any neat assessment.
After years of hard work, hopefully Second Chances can provide Risa with another shot at the big time.
Second Chances is released on March 22. Risa will be playing at Fuel Cafe, Withington, on April 25 and the First Chop, Ramsbottom, on May 16.
Image courtesy of Red Disc Records via YouTube, with thanks.
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