My previous encounters with the work of Temporary Hero have been less than overwhelming to say the least. But, to give the guy his due, he’s not one to let the grass grow beneath his feet, or to allow himself to be pigeonholed. Arguably, his artistic restlessness manifests as a hotch-potch of works that are more about ideas than realisation, indicating a lack of focus or commitment. Still, try out enough stuff and eventually you’ll strike copper, at the very least. Which is pretty much ‘Chet’.
It’s certainly no ordinary tribute or covers album. ‘Chet’ sees Temporary Hero tackle the songs Chet Baker took and added his vocals to as featured primarily on the album ‘Chet Baker Sings’. Stylistically, the arrangements make for pretty radical departures from the originals, incorporating laid-back electro, smooch dance, doo-wop, and even grainy industrial noise alongside the underlying jazz vibe. The Depeche Mode-y synth stylings of ‘Time After Time’ makes for a dreamy, soulful rendition, and the stripped-back arrangement of‘I’ve Never Been in Love Before’ makes nice use of some chunky beats before sliding into a club-friendly groove to back the Hero’s smooth vocal performance. A cool trumpet plays in the wind on ‘Born to be Blue’, and if ‘My Funny Valentine’ makes for an obvious finale, it’s executed nicely, a smooth, soulful crooner of a rendition.
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While all too much of the album sounds like slick nightclub music, Temporary Hero’s vocals work well with the material, and he’s made a decent fist of what is unquestionably an ambitious project.
I really don’t get the cover art, though.
Temporary Hero Online
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