CHELSEA WILSON is an Australian soul singer who’s spent the best part of 2 years recording her album, ‘I Hope You’ll Be Very Unhappy Without Me’. Self-funded and self-produced, Chelsea’s reputation in Oz is such that she was able to bring in some big names to help her deliver… people like the Bamboos’ Lance Ferguson and Jake Mason from Cookin’ On Three Burners. With “names” like that in her corner, little wonder that the 11 tracker was voted “Best Soul/Funk Album Of The Year” at the Victoria Music Awards.
Released on her own label (House Of Valerie And Joan – named for her two grandmothers), ‘I Hope You’ll Be Very Unhappy Without Me’ has just won world-wide release and if you investigate you’ll discover a contemporary pop/soul set with its roots in the sounds of Motown, blaxploitation and 60s soul-jazz. Many of the tracks are big, brash affairs garnished with retro flavours like tasty Hammond licks and plenty of wah-wah guitar. Try the Muhammad Ali tribute, ‘Hit ‘Em Like Ali’ to hear what I mean. Also worth checking is the cover of Neyo’s ‘Closer’ while for fans of the blues, Chelsea convinces on ‘I Let A Good Man Down’. Elsewhere ‘Worst Kind Of Blues’ and ‘Bitterness’ are sparse ballads while one version of the song ‘Through With Love’ is reggae-fied.
The LP’s two best tunes though are mid-tempo swayers…. ‘One Day At A Time’ and a great version of Esther Phillips’ ‘I Hope You’ll Be Very Unhappy Without Me’. It’s just a great, brass-filled tune and Chelsea does it total justice… no wonder she’s chosen it as the album’s title cut. Here @ SJF we’d strongly recommend you check it out…. do so @ www.chelseawilson.com.au
