Description
Sunset in the Blue is the fifth studio album from Melody Gardot. The American jazz singer used music as a way to heal after a bike accident when she was 19 left her with terrible injuries to her spine and head. She struggled with hypersensitivity to light and sound, and with her perception of time. Due to her delicate hearing, she chose quieter music, like bossa nova by Stan Getz, to aid her recovery. Five years on from the accident, she released her debut album, Worrisome Heart, to huge commercial and critical success.
Gardot has lived in Paris since 2017 and recorded this album there during lockdown. She invited artists from around the world, who may have been struggling to find work in the unprecedented times, to collaborate. Many of the tracks on this album were recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which leads to an accomplished and satisfying depth of sound.
The album is a slow & sultry & could not sound more steeped in Parisian atmosphere if it tried. The orchestra lends a swooning beauty to the accompaniments, with shimmering drums and woozy guitar; Gardot’s voice is restrained and beguiling. The album has bossa nova inflections throughout, more about mood than tunes, with melodies that are very subtle.
