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Get Rhythm - December 2001Judie Tzuke Queen Secret Keeper (Big Moon) When listening to this album I repeatedly asked myself the same question, why is Judie Tzuke not an instantly recognisable household name? For the last twenty years or so she's delivered album after album of finely crafted AOR songs of the highest standard, with a voice that any aspiring singer would kill for. 'Queen Secret Keeper' is the latest in a long line of accomplished releases on her own Big Moon Label. Once again Judie steers us through a collection of bittersweet songs of love and regret, with genuine and heartfelt emotion. 'This album was made with love and technology' is the inscription on the back cover and it's clear that the musicians on this release are not scared to take a few risks. Many of the songs such as 'Do You' or 'Don't Look Behind You' provide a mirror image of artists such as David Gray or even Dido, but Judie's reflection of these artists is unique. She's an original, an artist who can take elements from the contemporary scene and mould them into a sound that is hers and hers alone. In keeping with the last couple of albums Judie has worked closely with co-producer and guitarist David P. Goodes, his sympathetic arrangements suit her voice perfectly. As with most of her albums 'Queen Secret Keeper' is not available in the shops, but a visit to tzuke.com should provide all the information you need. Keith Whitham
 The Essex Chronicle - Go! 19th October 2001 Judie Tzuke - Queen Secret Keeper Dido was in nappies and Beth Orton was getting free school milk when Judie shot to stardom. The hauntingly beautiful Stay With Me Till Dawn - Judie's 1979 classic - has proven to be both a blessing and a curse with Tzuke failing to achieve such attention again. Now she's back with her fifteenth studio album. Queen Secret Keeper (available at: www.tzuke.com) is a dozen delightful tracks of late night listening. The years have been kind to Judie Tzuke and she still has the voice of an angel. The beauty of songs like Days Like These cannot be ignored. It's a thoughtful tale of a fading relationship where Tzuke even manages to sing a French refrain with outstanding ease. Long time Tzuke fan, Radio 2 DJ 'Whispering' Bob Harris, is rewarded with his voice being sampled on Drive. 'When the world isn't turning my way, when I can't find a reason to try, I just get in my car and drive' Tzuke sings, so evocatively that you'll want to join her in the passenger seat. Tzuke has taken the best modern recording methods - programmed keyboards and drums - and added it to her amazing voice. The perfect 1 2 3 is so complete it will hug your soul. From the life affirming Don't Look Behind You through to Little Diva's sultry drum and bass, Queen Secret Keeper oozes class. Having inspired so many contemporary singers like Dido Tzuke has produced a wonderful album of her own. She IS an angel. Don Blandford.
Classic Rock Magazine - December 2001 Judie Tzuke Queen Secret Keeper (Big Moon) For some time, Judie Tzuke has secretly harboured a desire to branch out from her niche as the blonde girl who sings weepy ballads. And although she's managed it with this, her 13th studio album, the exquisite 'Queen Secret Keeper' achieves the objective without compromising artistic integrity or the selling short of existing fans. The main difference is the extremely subtle addition of drum-loops, something that she dipped a toe into with her last studio album, 1998's 'Secret Agent'. But don't run away with the notion that Miss Tzuke has sold out to the dance music devil; the grooves added to 'Don't Look Behind You', 'All Of Me', and 'One Minute' (the latter originally appearing on last year's 'Six Days Before The Flood' live album) are completely discreet, embellishing each composition instead of being its driving force. Traditionalists need not despair, however, as 'Indian Giver' and the stunning 'Drive', are among the majority of songs that retain the shimmering fragility of Judie's past. Dave Ling
JUDIE TZUKE - 'THE CAT IS OUT TOUR'
DVD REVIEW: POWERPLAY MAGAZINE by SIMON GAUSDEN At last…at long last. After nearly (emphasis on 'nearly') a quarter of a century as a recording artist, the utterly divine Ms Tzuke is properly immortalised in the visual medium. Admittedly, years ago there was a video called "Masterclass", but it was both visually dreary and aurally dismal. This DVD is what can only be described as the dog's bollocks…and is utterly brilliant and a totally essential purchase! Unless I'm as thick as 'Timnicebutdim', this was originally recorded for a London area TV broadcast called…er. "Live From London"and, from the opening caption, would appear to be from the Camden Palace venue, but is actually from the Croyden Fairfield Hall (recorded on September 29th 1985). Both sound and picture quality are sublime - absolutely crystal in fact. Far from the usual shoddy 'copy and dump 'em as they are' transfer, in this case the finished product is lovingly presented with fantastic clarity. In fact, I'm pretty sure this has come straight from a TV archive, and may never have been seen at all previously. It really is total visual and aural treat. The entire 18 song set is complete for your appraisal - all 100 minutes of it - and it's just how I remember it (the tour I mean). This is a wonderful set by Judie, from what I fondly remember as one of her best tours. As you can see from the track listing, this was a tour with a wonderfully varied set, Jude was a massive puller live, On film here, Jude and her band are enormously tight: Jude herself is totally relaxed and controls her adoring audience with ease. I've watched this enthralling concert about nine times now, and it never bores me, even for a minute. What we need now is a new DVD of her most recent tour to complement this. Now that would be to die for. Congratulations to Classic Pictures for unearthing this gem. SIMON GAUSDEN
Classic Rock Magazine JUDIE TZUKE - THE CAT IS OUT TOUR This 90-minute DVD Plus was shot at Croydon's Fairfield Hall. It captures Polish-born Judie Tzuke back in 1985, accompanied by an unusually mobile and powerful backing band, and in front of a large and adoring audience. Future Status Quo bassist John 'Rhino' Edwards and ex-Fish keyboard player Mickey Simmonds conspire to balance Tzuke's angelic, nightingale vocals on songs like 'Who Do You Really Love', 'How Sweet It Is' and 'All They Can Do Is Talk About You'. Inevitably, 'The Cat Is Out' material features heavily in the set and despite coming from a different place entirely, tunes like 'This Side Of Heaven' and 'Harbour Lights' stand up well against old favourites 'You Are The Phoenix', 'For You' and Tzuke's UK chart-topper 'Stay With Me Till Dawn'. 3/5 External Links: Judie Tzuke - a Review of Queen Secret Keeper at 'The Phantom Tollbooth', by Olin Jenkins. http://www.tollbooth.org/2001/reviews/jtzuke.html Judie Tzuke - live in Worksop. A review by Nigel Bell on the BBC web site. http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/entertainment/clubs/2002/02/judie_tzuke_review.shtml |
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