From devilsgatemedia.com on Love Remains:
Bass Guitar magazine cover star Tal Wilkenfeld has played with some of the higher echelon of music royalty. From Prince and Herbie Hancock to The Allman Brothers, Mick Jagger and the role that she is best known for, bassist in Jeff Beck’s jaw-dropping band. Youtube her performance with Beck during Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival in 2007, and watch as Beck bows to her after her bass solo. That’s Jeff Beck, arguably the most respected guitarist in the world today, marvelling at the prowess of the young Australian. While you are it, search for her scatting with Steven Tyler during a jam on the intro to ‘Sweet Emotion’. After some acclaimed instrumental solo material, Wilkenfeld has now released her vocal debut album, ‘Love Remains’.
The meandering free playing on ‘Love Remains’, coupled with so many different styles and tones, means that it’s an album to get lost in. You simply don’t know what to expect next. Opening track ‘Corner Painter’ has a grunge vibe in places, the swirling, fuzzy guitar tones excel, and Wilkenfeld sings in a wonderful lower register. Hugely atmospheric, air-raid sirens in the background mixed with some fantastic lead breaks. ‘Counterfeit’ mixes it up with its lush, laid back grooves (as does ‘One Thing After Another’), Carly Simon and Joni Mitchell meets Kurt Cobain, 2019 style. Then the tortured lead guitar comes in on ‘Hard To Be Alone’, and this amazing album takes yet another twist.
Wilkenfeld’s songcraft is dazzling, the contrast in musical styles between ‘Counterfeit’ and ‘Hard To Be Alone’ is staggering. The flow from the quiet, reflective nature of the former, to the anger on the latter, comes as quite a surprise. Another example would be the coupling of the hypnotic title track, with ‘Fistful Of Glass’. The latter features melodies and harmonies tailor made for radio, the shortest of the ten tracks, it’s light and airy, and hangs around for some time afterwards. ‘Killing Me’ is much darker. A fantastic drum sound from Jeremy Stacey, beginning with what sounds like him rat-tat-tatting around the rims of his drums, quality playing.
The standard of playing is incredible, as you would expect, but it’s the vocals from Wilkenfeld that really stand out. A great range in style, and something for everyone really.