Title - 'Young Amelia' (Hazzazar Records)
Artist - Hans York
Hans York (a.k.a Hannsjoerg Scheid) is a little-known singer-songwriter both in his native Europe and his adopted American homeland, but if fate rewards excellence, this will change. York is a songwriting genius who has discovered surprising chordal resolutions and rhythmic grooves and on the follow up to "Inside Out" has brought them all to the fore on "Young Amelia."
In the past, York has made a name for himself as a DADGAD acoustic player, but the Celtic melancholy of that tuning does not come through at all on "Young Amelia." Instead, along with producer Stuart Epps by his side, these are upbeat jazz-pop masterpieces more akin to those of Sting, Al Stewart or Stephen Bishop. In fact, his vocals, though ever-so-slightly accented from his German heritage, sound as if they were cloned from Bish on "Listen to the Moon."
York is a very talented multi-instrumentalist and writer. His production skills too hover impressively in the same higher ground. "Young Amelia" is one indie release that the labels should heed.
1. Tell Me Why 2. Snow 3. Love is Here 4. Young Amelia 5. Lifeline 6. Inner Windows 7. Invocation 8. Letting Go 9. Ever Falling 10. The Garden 11. Brilliant Light 12. Never Been In Love