Three star
THE Welsh warbler from 90s indie band Catatonia may be Cockahoop about her comeback career as a solo artist but the gutsy voice from her Road Rage days is still taking a break.
Catatonia disbanded in 2001 and Matthews was allegedly treated for anxiety and depression but she has since got married, gone to Nashville and returned with a largely country-influenced album.
It was recorded with producer Bucky Baxter, Bob Dylan's old guitarist, and features traces of folk and pop but there's also some downright obscure song choices.
La Bague sees Ms Matthews squawking in French, there's a strange and slightly eerie interlude of violin and roaring thunder and an old Welsh hymn, Arglwydd Dyma Fi, on which she sounds like a 12-year-old singing at an Eisteddfod.
Cockahoop doesn't make any pretentious or sweeping artistic statements and isn't a groundbreaking or definitive album but it's mellow and shows a sweeter side to Cerys' voice.
And the singer herself says if there is a theme to Cockahoop its 'simply finding a story of learning to live and enjoy life again.'
Which is fair enough.
MC
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