Search - Webb Sisters :: Daylight Crossing

The Sublime Webb Sisters

Lightman | New York | 04/25/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"
This is how Leonard Cohen refers to Charley and Hattie Webb over and over again in the course of the 2008 concert immortalized on the Live In London CD.



The Webb Sisters have been touring with Cohen as backup singers (along with Sharon Robinson) and their contributions in this role are indeed sublime. Their rendition of If It Be Your Will is as beautiful as it is pregnant with raw emotion. And their solo in I Tried to Leave You is like nothing you've ever heard, as they warble and pant together in an almost ravenous and hungry harmony.



Daylight Crossing, however, is anything but sublime.



From the sisters' frumpy appearance on the CD cover (hey man, these girls are gorgeous) to the ponderous production of the songs, those expecting anything like the inspired work with Cohen are sure to be disappointed.



I suspect that the real goat here is producer Steve Lipson. He seems to completely misunderstand who the sisters are, packaging them as some kind of ersatz Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie with quasi Fleetwood Mac arrangements.



Presented this way, their ethereal and earthy harmonies are virtually lost.



I say virtually, because if you listen carefully, what Cohen characterizes as sublime is still there; it's just buried in the ham fisted production.



Interestingly, two highlights of the CD are Blue and Ferris Wheel, short instrumentals produced not by Lipson, but by Charley and Hattie.



With the right production (why not bring in Roscoe Beck?) the Webb Sisters sometime in the future will do something simply amazing."

Nice harmonies but weak songs

Orla Kristensen | Denmark | 02/26/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The Webb sisters once again demonstrate perfect singing capabilities. It is a shame that the material they are working with on this album does not give their talents more challenge. Their singing is beautiful and harmonies perfect, but in the long run a little boring. I prefer them in the more challenging combination with Leonard Cohen and Sharon Robinson. Not bad but not good either."

Disappointing...

The Scrappy Cat | Las Vegas, NV | 04/20/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"If you saw the Webb Sisters with Leonard Cohen this year, or heard their spine-tingling cover of his "If it Be Your Will"...you will be sadly disappointed. I must agree with the previous poster on this. The vocals and harmonies are lovely but overshadowed by the choice of music, which is just flat-out boring. There is so much potential here; it would be wonderful to hear an album that showcases their glorious voices. I would advise you to save your money on this one, and hope for something a little better in the future."