What an amazing, thrilling musical journey! "Rattle the Walls" by Alex Nester, produced by Robby Robinson, and featuring dozens of famous name and studio "A"-list musicians in Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville, is a debut tour d'force for this immensely talented young vocalist and songwriter. This lady has pipes like you may never have heard before anywhere, and her musical sense, pitch and phrasing are beyond superlatives. I can see why all those great musicians wanted to be a part of this project - it's something important as the musicians would say.
It's hard to put a single category on this album, with rich, savory and well-blended portions of blues, soul, R&B, funk, jazz, smooth jazz, and even a little touch of country. The original songs, especially those by Alex, are superb, with well-crafted lyrics that tell very (almost painfully) personal stories and capture passions of the soul that can just hold you breathless and spellbound. That old Al Kooper blues, "Love You More Than You'll Ever Know", takes on a whole new bigger-than-life with Alex' soulful and powerful interpretation, plus some awesome keyboard work from Robby. This one may leave you on your feet, shouting and cheering as Alex turns up the heat to "incinerate" at the end and then brings it all home. "Thank You" is a beautiful, soulful Alex original in the smooth jazz genre, yet, just when you are ready for another snifter of soothing brandy, Alex lets go with an exciting, impossibly difficult jazz scat as good as you've ever heard. She can do jazz too! The 15 Robby Robinson arrangements are rich, full,creative and equally superb.
I'm certain we may never see another indie recording of a new artist with this huge cast of famous musicians on a debut. There are sax guys to die for, incredible trumpet and trombone work by today's masters, a rhythm section made in heaven, and some blazing and just amazing guitarists. And Robby's keyboards - OMG, just as good as it gets. Love that big, greasy B3 Robby! Oh hey, when have you heard The Four Tops backing someone else - let alone a new artist? Alex just kicks butt on the closing "Can't Help Myself", yet stays true to the original R&B roots. This one's dessert for hard-core traditional R&B fans.
Find out what these famous musicians all know (and you don't) and get this album. I recommend you listen seriously with the very best set of headphones you can find find, beg or borrow - the recording quality is excellent and there are layers upon layers of intricate harmonies, textures, rhythms, and background vocals. Alex' voice is recorded "pure", without detectable post-processing or enhancements, doubling, or electronic chorus, and little or no reverb ("dry" as the better vocalists like to say). She doesn't need enhancements - she paints with a rich pallet of colors, from angelic sweet and pure to a full-on blues shout, and right on to hair-raising primal scream. But with control to burn.
So, I'm sure you think I'm exaggerating. I'm not. You'll see - get the album and listen. Eight years Alex - please tell us we don't have to wait another eight years for album number 2!!!