Review: “Bloom” by Tasmin Archer (CD, 1996)

Today’s POP RESCUE from an uncertain future, is Bloom, the 1996 second album from BRIT Award-winning singer and songwriter Tasmin Archer.

Tasmin Archer 'Bloom' (CD, 1996) — Tasmin Archer’s 1996 album ‘Bloom’

Bloom is mellow.

Far more mellow than its predecessor Great Expectations (1992), which shot Tasmin Archer to the heights of the charts and earned her a Best British Breakthrough Act BRIT in 1993.

The two singles One More Good Night With The Boys and Sweet Little Truth stand out here, but there are plenty more great songs on this album.

I Would Love To Be Right is a wonderful track that I could imagine Tasmin singing alongside a piano in a cosy late night jazz club.

Similarly, In Your Garden is a beautiful track which pitches Tasmin’s soulful voice with a piano.

You Made A Fool Of Me could easily have been a track recorded by Texas or Allison Moorer, yet as Tasmin co-wrote all of the songs on her album, she obviously kept it for herself – and it’s a delight here on the latter half of the album.

Reading the sleeve notes, reveals that the album was recorded in late 1994 and early 1995, yet the album itself didn’t appear until 1996. These tracks would have followed the successful release of her Shipbuilding EP, which featured 8 tracks – half of which were Elvis Costello covers. The gap between the EP and this album was due to ‘disagreements’ between Tasmin and EMI.

Tasmin Archer’s lead single ‘One More Good Night With The Boys’

Where is Tasmin Archer now?

After Bloom, Tasmin departed from EMI, and has since set up her own record label – Quiverdisc. This enabled her to record and release as she deemed fit – including her third album On in 2006.

She is active on social media, and continues to have her own tasminarcher.com website.