I love getting to hear new music and especially new musicals, that perhaps I wouldn’t get time (or the opportunity) to hear if I weren’t reviewing them for Review Graveyard. So I was pleased to get the concept album of a new song cycle recently.

The release is the premiere recording of new one-woman work, Heart of Winter. With music and lyrics by Tim Connor, and story and dramaturgy by Lia Buddle, the songs tell the funny, heart-warming and down-to-earth story of Kate, a primary schoolteacher in her mid-twenties, living up North. Her relationship of three years is over, and she is trying to adjust to her new life without Adam. With the help of her mum, her close friends and a large tub of Ben & Jerry’s, she is battling the harsh reality of winter to find the new hope of spring.

Originating the role of Kate for this premiere recording is Corrine Priest. Corrine won the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Award at the Garrick Theatre in May 2014. She made her professional debut in God at London Theatre Workshop to rave reviews, and has just made her West End debut as Lucy in Ushers: The Front of House Musical at The Arts Theatre.

It’s a brave move of the label to release this as both a physical CD and a download. More often these days, albums such as this get a download-only release, or in a lot of cases, no official release at all. It was a worthwhile release, which whilst it didn’t blow me away, it did give me a few hours pleasure on multiple listens. Priest is clearly an up and coming talent (I saw her in Ushers last year in London, and she was the best thing in a rather poor production) and I look forward to hearing more from her. The composer Tim Connor is someone I’ve not come across before, but clearly has the capability to go far if this recording (and the Stiles & Drew award) is anything to go by.

The recording would have benefited from some sort of orchestration - the use of just piano gave it the feeling of a demo, rather than a fully-fledged work. The melodies are strong, and I loved the rhythmic nature of the piano - it’s clear that a lot of thought has been given to this recording. When the songs are at their simplest, they are at their most glorious, but also thankfully the more complicated numbers aren’t too clever for the recording’s good, as so often happens. ‘Wide Awake’ is pure and heartfelt, and ‘Colour In My Cheeks’ sends shivers and is equal to anything you will here from our "well known" composers. Conversely, any teacher will relate to ‘Back To School’ and we can all relate to ‘The Driving Lesson’ in some shape or form.

And I think that’s what makes this recording (and song cycle) work so well - it’s relatable. We all know a Kate - some of us probably are Kate, or married her. I really hope this gets a live performance, and that we hear more from the composer. I know we’ll hear more from Priest.

8

Ian Gude