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Beth Hirsch


Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

ethereal evocative/eclectic alternative pop

Status:

Most recent release, "Summer" (single, as AlfaBeth, 2015); most recent full-length release, Wholehearted (2007)

See also:

Beth Hirsch's site

Beth Hirsch's bandcamp page

Wikipedia's entry on Beth Hirsch

Comparisons:

Lori Carson, kaitlyn ni donovan, Aiko Shimado

Covers/own material:

Own

General comments:

I do like Beth Hirsch's album Early Days very much...I picked Beth's album up because she was the haunting voice on a couple of Air's moon safari tracks. The album reminds me a bit of Lori Carson's Stars. There is also a 4-song ep called P-Town Rubies but I would recommend starting with the full length. (gordodo@optonline.net)

Recommended first album:

Titles & Idols

Recordings:

  • Miner's Son (10" vinyl single, 1999)
  • P-Town Rubies (1999)
  • Titles & Idols (2001)
  • Early Days (2001)
  • Wholehearted (2007)
  • Something to Tell / So Many Things (EP, 2010)
  • Love Is for Everyone—L.I.F.E. Part 1 (single, 2014)
  • Summer (single, as AlfaBeth, 2015)

P-Town Rubies ep

Release info:

1999—Dorado—DOR073CD

Availability:

Wide on release

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Beth Hirsch—vocals, guitar

Guest artists:

Romain Humeau & Marc Collin—all instruments on 3 tracks
Alex Blue—guitar on 1 track
Jean-Benoit Dunckel—Rhodes on 1 track

Produced by:

Marc Collins

Comments:

A 4-track ep, with two versions of the title track and two other songs. "Camden" is very like the songs on Early Days. "P-Town Rubles" has the verve (and then some) of "Come A Day" from Early Days and "Minor's Son" (does she mean miner's?) is a haunting song. (Neile)

Titles & Idols

Release info:

2001—!K7 Records—!K7107 CD

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Group members:

Beth Hirsch—vocals, acoustic guitar

Guest artists:

Steve Musters, Alex Pilkington, Simon Shippey, Mark Tucker—bluesound productions 5 tracks)
Ralph Salmans—drums on 1 track
Steve Spacek—bass on 2 tracks
Clive Deamer—drums on 1 track
Francis Hylton—bass on 1 track
Patrick Arbuthnot—pedal steel on 2 tracks
Stuart Tucker—trombone on 1 track
Roy Martin—keys on 1 track
Strings on 1 track:
     Gavin Wright—lead violin
     Boguslav Kospecki—2nd violin
     Peter Lale—viola
     Martin Loveday—cello
     Caroline Daniel—string arrangement, conducting
Michel Aymé—guitar on 3 tracks
Steve Argüelles—drum on 1 track
Christophe Mink—double bass, harp on 1 track

Produced by:

5 tracks by Bluesound Productions, 1 by Jackson, 4 by Black Dog Productions; François Millet, executive producer

Comments:

The songs on this album are a little more perky, less dreamy, than on Early Days. Part of this may be more programming in the production, and partly that the songs feel a little more hook-focused. The title track is a particularly good example of this. "Nest Sensation" is a totally pop song. All in all this album is more varied and lively than her previous solo work. (Neile)

Early Days

Release info:

2001—!K7 Record—!K7091 CD

Availability:

Wide

Ecto priority:

Recommended

Group members:

Beth Hirsch—vocals

Guest artists:

Phil Hudson—guitar
Paul Simm—piano
Arni Somogyi—double bass
Laura Fairhurst—cello
Danny Cummings & Nan Tasiboe—percussions

Produced by:

Paul Simm

Comments:

Low-key tunes—rainy day mood music—with lovely swinging vocals. In general the songs are mostly similar in sound and feel, but very pleasant and Beth Hirsch's vocals are winning. "Come A Day" especially has a lovely energy. (Neile)

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DISCLAIMER: Comments and reviews in the Ectophiles' Guide are excerpted from the ecto mailing list or volunteered by members of the list. They are the opinions of music enthusiasts, not professional music critics.

Entry last updated 2023-01-21 10:57:01.
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