It Goes Like This
Self-Released, 2025
9/10
The Juno Nominated singer-songwriter Denielle Bassels brings plenty of ideas and players to these 10 diverse songs that are fusion at its finest.
The smooth singing of “Lighthouse” opens with Andy Mac’s cozy acoustic guitar and Andrew Scott’s scrappy drumming via the quick delivery, and “A Woman Like Me” follows with Ewen Farncombe’s firm keys alongside a very animated energy.
Landing in the middle, “Emmelee” balances both soft and quick jazz ideas with much style, while “Chasin’ Butterflies” is particularly cozy and welcomes Drew Jurecka’s precise strings.
Arriving close to the end, “Stone Love” soars with Bassels’ expressive pipes amid Julien Bradley Combs’ dreamy guitar and well timed clarinet, and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” exits with a playful mood that you could dance to, and it’s a charming and timeless finish.
A really well executed body of work that embraces jazz, pop and folk, there’s definitely a vintage appeal here and it’s likely Bassels will see more much deserved praise for this effort.
Travels well with: Stephen Fearing- The Empathist; Julian Taylor- Pathways