West London, England[1]
Hollie Cook in concert in Brussels, 2019. | |
Background information | |
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Born | 1987 (age 32–33) West London, England[1] |
Genres | Reggae, roots reggae, dub, reggae pop, post-punk |
Instruments | voice, keyboard |
Years active | 2006–present |
Labels | Mr. Bongo |
Associated acts | The Slits |
Website | holliecook.com |
Hollie Cook (born 1987, West London, England) is a British singer and keyboardist. She was a part of the last line-up of all-female punk/reggae band The Slits. From 2010, Cook has also had a career as solo artist working with producer and songwriter Prince Fatty. In 2011 she released her first and self-titled reggae album Hollie Cook. She calls her own music 'tropical pop', and has a passion for reggae and female rocksteady and reggae singers, such as Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon, combined with classic 1960s girl groups.[2][3]
Dec 20, 2011 Hollie Cook's album should go over very big with ska and reggae fans-but also could have massive appeal to the more pop-oriented or alternative scenes, which as of late seem to be much more receptive at least to reggae-hybrid artists (Santogold, MIA, etc.). Hollie Cook sits in good company on Glover’s impressive production list, joining the likes of Paul McCartney, Tom Jones, The Verve, Primal Scream, Pink Floyd and Depeche Mode. Cook’s ability to continually surprise, delight and progress solidifies her position as one of this generation’s premier voices in reggae. A vocalist who calls her music 'tropical pop,' Hollie Cook's songs are a light but refreshing blend of modern pop and vintage reggae influences, ideally suited to Cook's supple, sensuous voice. Cook certainly has the genes for a career in music - her father Paul Cook was the drummer for the Sex Pis. Available with an Apple Music subscription.
Hollie Cook is the daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. Her mother Jeni was a backing singer for Culture Club and Boy George is her godfather.[3][4] She is of paternal English and maternal West Indian descent.
Hollie Cook joined the re-formed Slits and performed on the band's 2006 EPRevenge of the Killer Slits.[5] She went on to collaborate with Ian Brown and Jamie T, and recorded her self-titled debut album in 2011 with Mike 'Prince Fatty' Pelanconi, featuring George Dekker of The Pioneers and Dennis Bovell.[5] The BBC, reviewing the album described it as 'one of the most enjoyable reggae albums of 2011 so far'.[5] She went on to record a radio session for the BBC and appear on Later... with Jools Holland. De Telegraaf gave the album a four star review.[6]
In 2012, she was chosen as one of the support acts for The Stone Roses' reunion shows.[citation needed]
A dub remix version of her debut album was released in May 2012.[7][8]
She also featured on the 2012 Q covers album of Amy Winehouse's Back To Black, Back To Back To Black, covering 'You Know I'm No Good'.
Her second album proper, Twice, was funded via PledgeMusic and was released in May 2014.[9] A third album, Vessel of Love, was released in January 2018 and features: Alex Paterson, Martin 'Youth' Glover, Gaudi and Jah Wobble[10][11][12].
Cook describes her music as 'tropical pop'.[8][13]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hollie Cook. |
With Sex Pistols and one-time Slits drummer Paul Cook for a father, it comes as quite a surprise that West London vocalist Hollie Cook's self-titled debut album completely abandons her punk past in favor of an old-school reggae vibe, self-described as 'tropical pop'. Produced by Prince Fatty and featuring the likes of Dennis Bovell, and Omar & the Pioneers ' George Dekker, its ten tracks certainly come equipped with a pretty authentic pedigree but luckily, Cook's musical upbringing ensures that she's never overshadowed by the impressive roll call of guest musicians. Blessed with an enchantingly sweet voice which sits somewhere between the laissez faire attitude of Lily Allen and the softly spoken, melancholic tones of Morcheeba's Skye, particularly on the trip-hop-tinged cover of Rachel Sweet's 'It's So Different Here,' her laid-back delivery effortlessly recalls the lover's rock of Janet Kay and Phyllis Dillon which inspired the change in direction. But while the optimistic rendition of the Shangri-Las' 'Walking in the Sand,' which layers the doo wop classic with baritone brass hooks and roots reggae riddims, and the dreamy ska-pop of 'Milk and Honey,' a collaboration with Prince Fatty which previously appeared on Grey's Anatomy, are the perfect foil for Cook, the original material is just a little too repetitive to provide the same spark. Indeed, only the slightly psychedelic 'Shadow Kissing' and the echo-laden dub of 'Sugar Water (Look at My Face)' deviate from the album's formula of Hammond organs, brass riffs, and skank guitars, which makes it hard to distinguish between the likes of 'That Very Night,' 'Cry,' and 'Used to Be.' But despite its samey nature, Hollie Cook still heralds the arrival of a hugely promising reggae talent, who should have no problem in outlasting the short-lived '70s career of her father's iconic band.
Sample | Title/Composer | Performer | Time | Stream |
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2 | 03:17 | |||
3 | 03:30 | |||
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8 | 04:14 | |||
9 | 03:37 |