Trixie Whitley; talented half American, half Beligian singer/songwriter, and daughter of the late blues guitarist, Chris Whitley, has just recently released her debut solo album, ‘Fourth Corner’, having been lead singer in Black Dub for the past three years.
There’s something very likeable about Trixie’s sound; she holds that pure deep tone of Tracy Chapman, but flares a modern tint of a slightly more sophisticated Kelly Clarkson, while swinging that whole idea of a mature grunge sound.
This album, ‘Fourth Corner’ has so much going on over fifteen tracks. It has elements of every emotion captured, and spread out across the diameter of wonderful melodies. Coming from a musical background it’s hardly surprising, but Trixie is what music is about- she writes damn good lyrics, puts them to a beautiful melody, and executes them astonishingly well.
‘Never Enough, one of the opening tracks on the album, begins with a guitar riff that sort of awakens a slight Nirvana nerve. Using the rustic guitar strums against her almost echoing voice creates a vivid contrast that fits perfectly together. This ultimate rock-y sound that Trixie pulls off is something you could have on repeat all day and love it just as much as you did the first time- the perfect explosive introduction to an album. Toning the album right down with a stand-out track, ‘Pieces’, doing wonderful justice for Trixie’s vocal abaility, with only very slight sounding instruments simmering underneath a smooth voice.
Follow-up tracks such as ‘Gradual Return’ and title track ‘Fourth Corner’ are just more examples of why this album is so pleasant to listen to; it’s real honest music. With that same sound of shy instruments building up to a peak behind Trixie’s flawless vocals, it will forever be a mystery that Trixie Whitley isn’t more well known.
All in all, this is an incredible debut album by an artist who is appearing to have a massive future set out. If you like honest lyrics set to a beautiful array of instrumentation, you’ll have to love Trixie Whitley.