Not that there is any lack of rock on this album. It's there (try Gypsy Song) simply toned down, swung out, and something that Catatonia never could acheive- Comfortable. However Matthews shows that her strength lies in her softer ballads that the listener can fall in love with on the first chord. Examples of these love-at-first sights are All My Trials, the enchanting Arglwydd Dyma Fi, and strangely enough, the 45 second blip of a tune called La Bague.

Catatonia fans will NOT want to miss this jewel. Hopefully Matthews will be able to coax some American fans as well into
this fine album. Fans of Norah Jones, Vanessa Carlton, and similar artists would do well to give this a listen. It is sure to delight.


A gem of an album   February 5, 2005
Lee (Arizona)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

I bought this album because I am a huge fan of Welsh rock band Catatonia, and was hugely disappointed when they split in 2001; so, when I heard lead singer Cerys Matthews was making a solo album, I was very excited. This music is extremely different from that of Catatonia, however; it has more of a folk music feel to it. Cerys has a very unique voice and it suits this music perfectly. If you've never heard her before, she has an incredible sexy, textured, kittenish voice that I can't compare to anybody else. The album as a whole is delightful, and I don't consider myself a country music fan so don't let that label put you off.

It's a very musically accomplished album. Cerys hired a lot of very talented musicians in Nashville to help her make the record. It is too bad it didn't get more exposure, it really is a great album and I can't wait to see where this new direction takes Cerys. She really does sound a lot more fulfilled and content than she ever did in Catatonia, and the end result is an album that is very pleasant to listen to and a worthy addition to any music fan's collection.


Sweet Surrender   April 25, 2005
Lee Armstrong (Winterville, NC United States)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Known as the lead singer for Catatonia's 5 albums, Cerys Matthews' first solo set is a departure from that band's sound. She opens up with "Chardonnay" written by Roger Cook who wrote the classic hits "You've Got Your Troubles" for the Fortunes, "Long Cool Woman (In A Black Dress) for the Hollies and "Green Grass" for Gary Lewis & the Playboys. In Matthews' hands "Chardonnay" is a delightful track complete with bassoon, oboe, cello & bazouki. [I confess I don't actually know what a "bazouki" is, but there is a great variety of sounds within the track.] On her own "Only A Fool," Matthews fashions a lovely melody filled with longing, "So I creep by your side, no great surprise, all for your sweet surrender; The morning stands still, won't let me in." On the brief "La Bague," Cerys' voice sounds quite a bit like the classic rock singer Melanie with its lusty alto, full of life. I understand that Matthews wrote the songs for this set without running water, a kitchen or a bathroom. The songs certainly have an elemental feel as on the lovely "Ocean" & "The Good In Goodbye." This is a great set with a homey country feel. Enjoy!


not bad...   November 19, 2005
J. Holmes (yokohama, japan)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

Cery's Matthews possesses a truly unique voice that combines a velvet croak with a whiskey-ravaged rasp. that may sound like an insult...but it's not, i actually like her voice and it lends itself to these songs quite nicely. acoustic driven and heavy on the cowgirl accents, Cockahoop contains some nice little songs. but overall, i feel like it's missing something. maybe squaring Matthews's voice into the country rock sound is just a little too derived...in other words, it works sometimes, and sometimes it does not. but it is a nice little record. shame about the absolutely horrendous cover art. ouch.


Beauty   March 20, 2005
J. P. Cook (New Zealand)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

Listening to this album over and over again, is like dancing till I'm tired, and drinking till I'm full.
It's beautiful, pure beauty.