Tess Wiley
"not quite me"

   ( 2004 Tapete Records / Indigo / wileyrock.de;
           amazon.de )

   (English review version)

After about three years ago Tess Wiley finally returns with her second full length effort! Different to its predecessor "Rainy Day Assembly" the new album entitled "Not Quite Me" was mostly recorded in Germany even in Tess' home. Meanwhile the rock singer got a contract at German indie label Tapete Records and is already making some waves here and there in the German press.

The music of the new record is like coming from another planet: the groove is there, Tess magical voice and a fabulous rock sound that you don't find everywhere else! The German girl with Texan roots authentically transports atmospheres and moods and it all works true and genuine for the listener. Just music that is roots-oriented and handmade anyway. Everything here is real. Tess succeeds more and more with her songwriting, I feel the songs are even worked out better than the last time. Among the ten new recordings is also the song "How Does Silence Feel" (#2) which first appeared on a sampler in the USA in 2002. Other than that there is a new version of the classic Tess song "Delicate Skin" (#6) which is truly wonderful and kind of "smooth." The title track "Not Quite Me" (#1) und the closing "This Shadow" (#10) are the stand out smash hits of this record and I suggest to release them as radio singles: infectious rock beat with parts of acoustic guitar, beautiful hook lines and simply a sound that is "fast forward." Beside this, "This Shadow" is a tribute to the whole Tess-crew and all her supporters for helping her throughout the years.

Well, Tess and her band surely don't make typical top40 charts music but the album just contains some hits! It's all a beautiful symphony and the song selection is the perfect mix for fans of an indie rock outfit and for Emo pop fans. Tess and her musicians also tried some new things and so we can hear nice background vocals and handclaps which add a new dimension to her already wide broadened sound. - Please more of that in the future ;-)

In her songs the singer reflects different aspects of love. At all, relationships seem to play an important role for Tess in her lyrics. This time we also hear explicit poems about God: She sings a new composition of Psalm 42, taken from the bible. "My Fortress and My Shield" (#7) also sounds a bit like a new take on Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" - just in the indie rock genre… Truly, a phantastic new song and one of my actual favorites from the album! All in all the poems and verses are more pursuable and understandable for the listener/ reader than some former songs of her. The mood of the tunes is more optimistic this time but we still get - in best tradition of Wileyrock - some melancholically dreamy soundscapes.

The verdict: A perfect soundtrack for life. In some way you get atmospheres of/ for all seasons here. I strongly recommend this new stuff for all faithful Tess fans and all others who love characteristic female voices with a wide range of expression. Just because: Only where 'Tess Wiley' is written upon you get the brilliant and clever Wileyrock within. Or differently said: If you ever want to take an adventure in the land of great guitar pop then start with this one!