5th October, 2006

JUSTIN MICHAEL   

Artist: Roma Waterman
Album: Roma Waterman Live

Label: Platinum Entertainment

Enhanced content: No

In A Word: Warming

"The most moving thing for me, and the majority of Waterman fans, is her amazing ability to capture big thoughts in simple lyrics and bed them in her signature ballad stylings."

A live album always has a curious ‘life of its own’ element to it. If you have never heard an artist, you’d be doing a good thing by starting with a ‘best of’ disc, but if you’re a fan, then you simply have to own any live offerings. Roma Waterman Live is, in the true tradition of live discs, an album for the fans.

Recorded over a number of shows in 2005, this album also marks the beginnings of the miracle of Waterman’s first child, Angelina. The liner notes state “that I was 13 weeks pregnant when a majority of these songs were captured after being told there was a possibility I may never have children...it was an overwhelming experience”.

Waterman takes her swag of sure-fire hits from the last decade or so and delivers them in a simple me-’n-the-piano way. There’s Favourite Things, More Than Ice-cream (yes, the ice-cream song gets a guernsey!), People Change, a cover of Keith Green’s He’ll Take Care Of The Rest and the bonus studio cut (and new single) Wings Of Love. In the absence of a DVD partner for this disc, it may be best to provide your own visual by tucking yourself in with your headphones in a quiet corner of the lounge.

Once again, the vocals are faultless and the song choice impeccable. Include in the collection the covers, Somewhere Over The Rainbow, When I Survey The Wonderous Cross and the Crowded House hit, Fall At Your Feet and you’ve got a great set. That’s what a live disc should be; a great set of tunes that make you stick around for the encore.

I must confess a vested interest in this disc. I have gone from a fan to a friend of Waterman’s over the last 10 years and I’ve also added some vocals and guitar to the recording. Still, the most moving thing for me, and the majority of Waterman fans, is her amazing ability to capture big thoughts in simple lyrics and bed them in her signature ballad stylings.

The Letter, first released on the debut Talking Eyes, is a highlight and Worth Dying For seems a little-heralded gem to me. With lyrics like ‘mothers and daughters be all you’re created to be; be strong and courageous as gentleness plays at your feet’, the single Wings Of Love will surely find its way into many hearts.

For me, it’s not quite as live as I would like (the track-to-track flow is a little disjointed at times), but the natural ebb and flow of groove and intensity in the music and vocals has not been removed for the sake of slicker sounds and that, for me, makes this a great honest listen.

Justin Michael can be heard weekday mornings on Geelong-based radio station 96.3 - www.rhemafm.org.au.