Jeni Varnadeau - No Hesitation

Tuesday 1st December 1998
Jeni Varnadeau - No Hesitation
Jeni Varnadeau - No Hesitation

STYLE: Rock
RATING 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8
OUR PRODUCT CODE: 5388-4235
LABEL: Pampliin PMCD9845
FORMAT: CD Album
RRP: £0.18

Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

After the explosion of 'Colours Of Truth' and the British live appearances in August of this diminutive singer, her new album was welcomed with open arms in the Rimmer household. Her debut was an exciting, creative, impacting collection of songs that caught the attention and struck straight into the heart. Teaming once more with producers John and Dino Elefante, this follow up is slightly disappointing because in places it feels like it's blanded out a bit. Certainly there seems to be less power overall although it's clear that Jeni herself is beginning to find her own voice and no longer sounds like Alanis!! Got to say I prefer it when she chooses to adopt rock chick mode and the opener "Mercy" and the slower sassy bluesy "I Need You" both give Jeni the chance to let loose a little. Having first heard it live, my favourite song is "Shaken" which doesn't seem as furious on disc but it's still a stonking tune! "Come With Me" sounds like early Texas with plenty of cool sliding Blues guitar whilst "Over Again" is a fine ballad showing her softer side. Jeni has a great passionate powerful voice but where she should be pinning down the listener with edgy roaring rock'n'roll out there in the wild, this album sees her a caged lion sounding too safe. 'No Hesitation' is the sound of Jeni treading water at the shallow end. It's good, but faced with two roads producers John & Dino chose the wide glossy safe path when the narrow road would have been so much more dynamic!

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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