Tracey Roberts - discography

 

Shades of Blue - 2012   Another first - Tracey wanted to do an album with a Steinway grand piano playing a few instrumental pieces, completely improvised, just to see how it went - recording on the spot. Out of that came two wonderful pieces of music, Chasm (inspired by one of her illustrations of a piano keyboard emanating from a the bottom of a rocky cliff) and Snow - which conjures up images of ice crystals in a snow cave. She has also included some originals on this CD - Jeremy, a macabre and violent tale of lust, The Quiet Room, a poignant look at loneliness, Somewhere Green - her take on the contrasts between all that is ugly and all that is beautiful, and Cafe on the Corner, which is a whimsical description of many of the characters she knows in her beloved hills. There are 3 intimate jazz standards on this album, You go to my head, Round midnight and What'll I do? and a deightful cover of Cat Stevens' Moonshadow with exquisite harmonies reflecting the symmetry of the "arms", "legs" and "eyes" mentioned in his lyrics. Her own version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah drew rave reviews from the recording producer and business manager of Baker St, Recording Studios. This Just the singer and the Steinway - a class album. "... by the time I finished listening to her interpretation of Hallelujah I had tears in my eyes " Allan Neuendorf Recording Producer, Baker St Studios

 

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Parallel Universe - 2008   This CD took a year in the studio and contains 11 rich and diverse songs which, as Paul Strahan, recording producer, likes to say..."It's a little slice of history". True enough, as this collection of songs looks not only at the eternally powerful theme of love for partner, (Forever), passion (In the blood) and children (SNAP) but also at very strong issues for everyone in the 21st century - the stresses of living in the information age (Liquid Blue), concerns about the environment and terrorism (Rainbows after rain) and dictatorship (Magic Wand). There are also some wonderfully spiritual true-story songs (Charlie, Grandpa's watch) and the favourite hit emerging appears to be the song Tracey wrote about her 4WD (if Joni can do it with Big Yellow Taxi, Tracey can do it with Big Red Truck!). This album is powerful yet smooth, it's fun, dynamic and thought provoking with melodic songs, intelligent lyrics, strong arrangements and exceptional musicianship. Style and sass. "Charlie is one of the best songs I've heard about our relationship with indigenous Australians. The lyrics are superbly constructed. Tracey is a poet and this song is worth the purchase price on its own..." John Williams, Trad and Now magazine Listen to sound files Read lyrics

 

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After the Wave - 2008   This EP was born out of the fact that there were so many new songs recorded for the new studio album "Parallel Universe" and it was suggested that another small collection of songs could make a new album at the same time. On this EP there are five emotive songs of love, hope and understanding inspired by the Boxing Day tsunami a few years ago, and the death of a lovely friend and musical colleague. The title track is Tracey's first foray into instrumental music. With the exception of a poppy little number to finish off the EP with a smile, the rest of the songs are more loungy jazz-pop style tracks - with vocals - including the live recording of what is becoming a gig favourite - the ethereal and haunting piece entitled HOME. "Sensational." Phil Smith, Halftone Records Listen to sound files Read lyrics

 

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the Nightingales - 2007   This CD was whipped up in a few days for the Port Fairy Folk festival gig in 2008 - a wee album of 5 songs - an original song from each of these exceptional singer-songwriters, (Tracey Roberts' quirky cabaret version of Little Man, Maria Forde's philosophical Now is all we have and Janette Geri's beautiful In the air.) There are also included a couple of traditional Celtic pieces, Greensleeves (with a more unusual 6-8 feel) and Wild Mountain Thyme (which is just gorgeous...). The girls performed these songs at Port Fairy (along with others) and this CD just about sold out in that one festival. "The harmonies blew me away..." John Munro , Colcannon, Eric Bogle "Wild Mountain Thyme is just honey ..." Maria Forde, singer-songwriter

 

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LIVE at DIZZY's - 2005   Having secured a few gigs at DIZZY's jazz club in Melbourne in 2005, one of Melbourne's top jazz venues, the opportunity was created to record a live album there - especially with the exceptional musicianship of the guys in the quartet - some of Melbourne's best jazz musicians. Also, there's been a bit of interest from certain folks in the past few years to produce an album with some jazz standards on it so that's how this CD was born. There are a few original pieces on it (Little Man and Night in Amsterdam) - it's a fun album which captures the energy and laughter around a live performance. "Great album - well done. Congratulations." Steve Sedergreen, jazz pianist "She's really something to see live..." Emma Sidney, jazz singer Listen to sound files Read lyrics

 

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LINK - 2003   After quite a few years' break from recording (busy being a music agent, a graphic designer and illustrator, building a house and becoming a mother) Tracey has finally recorded a number of her own songs again - this time with a lighter and more acoustic arrangement. Recorded at Pangaea in Melbourne with recording producer, Chris Hallam, this CD has four songs, the most impressive being the first, Daniel's Hands, written about her son. There is a dreamy, cosmic query into truth (If you told them), a poignant, almost tribal a cappella piece (Home) and a cruisy, jazzy number about the appreciation of friends and time (Harvest Moon). Again displaying her ability to write interesting lyrics and music combining quality with diversity, this is a beautiful collection of intimate songs to listen to quietly and enjoy time and time again. "Daniel's Hands is a masterpiece - you'll never need to write another song in your life..." Janette Geri, singer-songwriter Listen to sound files Read lyrics

 

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Treasure Box - 1998 This is Tracey's second CD - it really is a treasure box of beautiful, melodic songs, written in collaboration with Wim Oudijk and Frieda Gerhart. It creates a feeling of breezyness and inspiration using rich, imaginative music sprinkled with musical gems and thought-provoking lyrics. There are stories (Isabella's song, So much love), tales of fantasy (Welcome to my dream) and love (Peculiar affair, Love and fear), as well as reminiscing (Cafe days) , a giggle at the rigors of western society (In the burbs) and some philosophical soul-searching (Signs, No rhyme or reason, On and on). The sky features very deliberately as a theme - definitely to be listened to with a comfy chair and a glass of wine. "Treasure Box is a surprise! I enjoy the rich inner space which these songs inhabit - aspirations, relationships…and some gentle lifestyle satire. Text and music blend lyrically while Tracey Roberts' warm voice amplifies the subtlety of the moods which are enhanced by imaginative harmonies and arrangements." Tim O'Connor, Encore Entertainment Listen to sound files Read lyrics

 

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Simple Things - 1991 The debut solo CD, recorded in Holland with a collection of songs co-written with Dutch record producer and musician, Wim Oudijk and Australian lyricist, Frieda Gerhart. Theatrical musical arrangements feature very strongly on this CD and the material is quite varied - often the case with first albums. There are gorgeous ballads (Simple things, If I could, Hold onto your dreams, Broken hearts), more heated emotional pieces (Jealousy, Where's the fire?), whimsical (or is that Wimsical..? ) tunes (Happy girl, Outs and ins, He cares for me), a comment on the power of movie stars on the psyche (Matinee Idols) and the true story of Goutier and La Dominguez (Silvia's Eyes). A diverse range of songs highlighting the different colours of the voice singing them. "A lovely voice. This is amazing music - for musicals and movie themes - so diverse…" Christine Sullivan, singer "A beautiful voice reflecting not only the skill and artistry of the singer, but something essentially delightful in the woman herself." Fabian Dattner, entrepreneur and author Listen to sound files Read lyrics

 

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Other albums (as vocalist / musician):

• Drs. P. - Knolraap en Lof, Schorseneren en Prei (1987)
  Atilla the Stockbroker - Scornflakes (1988)
  Will Matla - Back on my feet again (1992)
  Hilda Wartena - Nonpareil (1993)
  Rob Smedley - Jackpot Romeo (1996)
  Wim Oudijk - Xing the equ8or (2000)
  Wim Oudijk - Strrung (2002)
  Jan Goutier - Bohemia (2005)
  Michelle Chandler - Mohana (2008)
  Bruce Watson - Balance (2010)
  Lyn Phelan - Phelan Musical (2011)
  

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Ordering recordings

 

Shades of Blue $25 AUS	Parallel Universe $25 AUS	After the Wave $15 AUS	The Nightingales $15 AUS
LIVE at DIZZY's $25 AUS	Link $15 AUS	Treasure Box $25 AUS	Simple Things $25 AUS

You can email enquiries@pangaea.nu  and request an order form to be emailed,
posted or faxed to you. Alternatively you can download the CD order form in pdf format here:
CD order form.pdf and then fill it out and send it to us.

You can also buy CDs through the following independent outlets:

CD Baby www.cdbaby.com
Halftone Records halftonerecords.com
Trad & Now Music Magazine / on-line shop www.tradandnow.com
Blue Moon Records - Johnston St, Fitzroy

...and at Tracey's gigs of course! See the gig guide: tracey's gig guide

Thank you for supporting independent music.

 

If you have comments please send email to enquiries@pangaea.nu

 

All information on this site © Pangaea Productions Pty. Ltd. 2012