Album Review, Colourful House - Zoe Schwarz, Rob Koral & Friends - Barn Owl Blues, Netherlands,
https://barnowlblues.nl/newpage0ac00029
[Release date 31.10.25]
Formerly known as the Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion, the new album by Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral has now been released under both their names, reflecting a musical partnership that has existed for around twenty years. Zoe became captivated by music at an early age; it is said that she could read music before she learned to read in the usual sense. Singer Zoe—who also plays piano and clarinet—and guitarist Rob Koral live in the county of Dorset in the south of England. Colourful House is the seventh album to emerge from their partnership and was released recently.
They are supported by Pete Whittaker (Hammond organ, piano), a regular member of Blue Commotion, as well as bassists Paddy Blight and Anth Caplen, drummer Eddie John, saxophonist Ian Ellis, trumpeter Andy Urquhart, and vocalist Craig Alexander. Colourful House features fourteen tracks that stylistically move between blues, jazz, rock, and soul. The album opens with the catchy “Venus Ain’t So Far Away,” followed by the beautiful and sensitive slow blues “Your Love Hurts.” The band guides the listener through a fine variety of styles and tempos, concluding with the lively boogie “It Ain’t Easy,” which closes the album.
Other tracks that, in my view, deserve special mention are the blues ballad “Tell Me,” the funky “Out The Front Door,” and “City of Blues,” which features a magnificent guitar solo by Rob Koral. The most beautiful track for me, partly due to its almost esoteric lyrics, is “House of Colours.” In this text, written by radio presenter and author Pete Feenstra, colours are associated with different moods. Highly recommended to listen carefully to these lyrics. Feenstra has contributed lyrics to earlier albums as well, and he has once again made several contributions to Colourful House.
Overall, Zoe and Rob have delivered another excellent album. Musically, everything fits together perfectly, and the lyrics are meaningful and well worth listening to closely. An absolute recommendation.
Eric Campfens
