CDs by Emili Sande, Balthazar and Emilia Mitiku reviewed (From The Westmorland Gazette)

CDs by Emili Sande, Balthazar and Emilia Mitiku reviewed

12:31pm Thursday 21st February 2013 in News By Daniel Orr, Reporter

EMILI SANDE - Live at the Royal Albert Hall

WOMAN of the moment and double Brit-award winner Emili Sande uses the incredible acoustics of the Royal Albert Hall to show off her vocal chords.

This live recording from her recent show at the legendary venue features those songs which have soundtracked life for many Britons over the past 12 months.

Even the most grumpy of listeners couldn’t help but be cheered by her breakthrough single Heaven, which sounds superb here.

This album exemplifies why she is likely to rule the airwaves for many years to come.

EMILIA MITIKU - I Belong To You

ANYONE remember that incredibly catchy 1999 hit that went: “I’m a big, big girl in a big, big world...but I do, do feel that I do, do will miss you much”?

Well, 14 years on, the songstress behind that massive song, which sold 4.5 million copies, is back with a new sound.

Mitiku’s soulful voice, reminiscent of Ella Fitzgerald, Joss Stone and Eva Cassidy all at the same time, soars throughout, especially on the really quite lovely You’re Not Right For Me, a recent Radio 2 Record of the Week.

BALTHAZAR - Rats

BALTHAZAR offer something a bit different for indie music fans with their delicate rhythms and melodies.

Sinking Ships is like Bob Dylan produced by Dangermouse, while the horn-inflected Joker’s Son could have been written by Burt Bacharach.

Learning their trade as teenage buskers, Maarten Devoldere and Jinte Deprez have really delivered on their early promise.