Reviewed by Ian Phillips.
By La Reina, Independent 2019.
Australian singer, songwriter and children’s literary advocate, Reina Barlow has combined her passions for music and education to produce her debut album, Raining In My Heart.
She teamed up with songwriter and producer Tim Wild to record an album of Buddy Holly songs.
She comments: “My love for music is very broad but my heart kept coming back to the memories of listening to Buddy Holly with my late father so this music has a lasting and powerful connection to me.”
Reina will be donating all the profits from Raining In My Heart to Ardoch, a not for profit organisation, and specifically their early language and literacy program.
Assisting in financing the aforementioned program is reason enough to purchase this album, but it is only a secondary reason to do so.
You should buy this album because it is a wonderful reimagining of Buddy Holly’s timeless songs.
La Reina has a beautiful voice. She is a classically trained singer who has been performing as both a solo artist and as part of a band since she was 16.
In addition to this she has performed with the Melbourne Opera and the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Victoria, along with many other similar groups.
The beauty of this album is that Reina and Tim have made the intelligent decision to keep it simple.
The backing accompaniment has been kept to a single instrument – acoustic or electric guitar – putting the emphasis on Reina’s wonderful voice and the fantastic songwriting of Buddy Holly.
I suspect the guitar work was played by Tim Wild – whoever is it, they deserve a special mention for it is clear, rhythmic and, above all, melodic.
Regular readers will know that I’m a supporter of independent artists and as far as I’m concerned that’s a third reason why you should buy this album.
Everybody should have some Buddy Holly in their collection. His catalogue of songs is a gift that just keeps on giving.
