Ulita Knaus - Love In This Time (2017) [Official Digital Download]

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Ulita Knaus - Love In This Time (2017) [Official Digital Download]

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Ulita Knaus - Love In This Time (2017)
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/44,1 kHz | Time - 49:25 minutes | 575 MB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Front cover

Music is the language of passion, the food of love – and life would be a mistake without it. What does Ulita Knaus have to add to these poetic musings by Richard Wagner, Shakespeare, and Nietzsche? With “Love in this time”, her seventh album as a leader, the singer, songwriter and producer with South American and German roots presents an equally romantic and energetic album, a resounding compass guiding us to various topics and questions dear to her heart. In nine original compositions and a very personal rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Visions” she proves herself a very vocal self-made woman.

Ever since Ulita Knaus released her debut album “Cuisa” fifteen years ago, she is regarded as one of the best vocalists in Europe – if one is to go by her collaborations with Bobby McFerrin or Julian Lage, her appearances at festivals such as jazz baltica or ELBJAZZ with her own band, or her nomination for the ECHO JAZZ in Germany for her previous release “The Moon On My Doorstep”, also released on Membran in 2014. She is known as an inquisitive, always surprising musician, one who is always searching, never standing still, conquering new sound-scapes from Jazz via Soul on to Folk or Electronica (with her very own „Melodique-Remixes“). On this quest she rekindled the flame for an old love, Joni Mitchell’s „Hejira“, a legendary album featuring Jaco Pastorius from 1976. „But I also heard a lot of Stevie Wonder, Prince and Donald Fagen during the last year or so.“ Thematically the new album is mainly concerned with love, even though these feelings extend to all humankind, so occasionally include politics and social commentary. “Love and a caring, respectful way of treating each other seem to have gone out of style”, Ulita Knaus says. “I am a Hippie at heart and will never give up hoping for the good in people. I believe that it is especially important in these times to promote “Love, Peace and Happiness”.” Stylistically somewhere between Jazz and what once was called Pop, the album was recorded with her live-band Tino Derado (piano, keys), Tupac Mantilla (percussion), Roland Cabezas (guitars), Oliver Karstens (double bass) and Achim Rafain (e-bass).

Nothing was planned, Ulita says, “while writing the songs it just so happened that all of them were about love”. The songs that ended up on “Love in This Time” sound and feel accordingly – sometimes sensual, sometimes sentimental, sometimes even angry, hopeful, or nearly resigned. Ulita Knaus’ singing sounds easy and sumptuous, always charming, clear and precise, even in the most complex moments. Her not always unambiguous love songs go skin deep, and do so in a delightfully laidback manner. It sounds as if the singer never judges, only observes, and „Love in this Time” is full of understanding and concern. Yet another reason this seventh album by Ulita Knaus is so remarkable and wonderful, a potential favorite for years to come.