CD’s – Divided Heart
“Divided Heart” is a truly South African CD featuring original songs from young and seasoned South African singer/songwriters in both English and Afrikaans yet with a totally new-world, atmospheric, modern music sound – Africa meets Europe meets Asia – with exotic rhythms yet sophisticated arrangements and instruments ranging from the Australian didgeridoo, Indian tablas and sitar to the potbelly drum. As in South Africa, one meets a world in one country.
Featuring the innovative young arranger and pianist, David Jooste and seasoned musicians like Denny Lalouette (bass) and Barry Snyman (saxaphone), this is Helena’s sixth CD and the one she has always wanted to make. Other exciting performer/ musicians are Bruce Wallace on drums and Charl Coetzee on guitar.
She and David had this vision before them since 2002 and now, at last, it is a reality. There are five of her own songs, one being the title track, “Divided Heart” written in London and another, “Journeyman” composed while in Bologna, Italy. Also to be experienced on the CD are the handpicked songs of Mel Botes, Anton Goosen, Gilene Sneyd, Chris Becker, Marietjie Stoop and young artists Marelise Scheepers and Eugene Vermaak. An added bonus are songs with her father, legendary twice Springbok cyclist and rally driver, Jan Hettema with two timeless jazz classics, “Unforgettable” and Buona Sera. Helena’s pianist of ten years, Alwyn van Heerden is on piano for these two songs.
The CD was recorded in the studios of veteran sound engineer, Cesar d’Almeida who has been responsible for all her previous CDs. He worked very closely with Helena and David in all aspects of production such as phrasing, harmonies and all creative touches in general. Auspiciously the CD recording was completed on the day of the full moon in August 2003 as the first spring rains began to fall.
TRACKS:
- GIRL WITH A DIVIDED HEART
- ‘N STADIGE HAND
- AS
- JOURNEYMAN
- LIEWE VRIEND
- LUGPERD
- SLEUTELWIND
- EN SY DANS
- AS DIE WINTERWIND
- WASTED, WOUNDED
- LIFE IS LIKE A RIVER
- LAATMIDDAGLIEDJIE
- GOODNIGHT WORLD
- GIRL WITH A DIVIDED HEART
BONUS TRACKS:
- UNFORGETTABLE
- BUONA SERA
REVIEWS:
“South Africa has its own folk poet in the form of singer/songwriter Helena Hettema. This child of the cosmos brings an ethereal, thoughful vision to Divided Heart, her sixth CD. The result is a evocative, gently stirring album that will enchant the dicerning listener.” (Chistina Kennedy – Citizen – 21 June 2004)
” Sy het haar eie stem gevind, ‘n klank en versameling wat reg aan haar vermoëns laat geskied, tog is dit net haar eie musiek en likrieke wat sy die meeste beïndruk” (Mariana Malan – Die Burger – April 2004 en Beeld – Julie 2004)
“An enchanting album. Helena Hettema has honed her songwriting skills…Celtic quality – sweet music done with great care and simplicity.” (Danie de Beer – Pretoria News – 28 April 2004)
“Eie komposisies wat haar ryk misterieuse resonante stem en kabaretstyl tot hul voortreflike reg laat kom. ‘n Weldeurdagte vesameling eg SA liedjies met ‘n splinternuwe vermenging van die polsende ritmes en eksotiese klanke van instrumente soos die Australiese didgeridoo, Indiese tabla en sitar tot “potbelly” dromme.” (Eastern Pretoria – May 2004)
“Divided Heart boei, voer mee en bekoor. Dit verdien volpunte! DH – deurwinter tog vars, eksotiese maar gestroopte Afrika-aards. Daar is baie sangeresse maar min vertolkers. DH is ‘n spog vertoonvenster vir A musiektalent. Haar kreatiewe vertolkingsvermoë skitter. Helena Hettema bied fynproewersmusiek.” (CJ the DJ – Vrouekeur – 4 Junie 2004)
“Sy maak een goeie CD na die ander. Sy skryf haar eie musiek en doen dit baie goed. Sy het ‘n unieke stem. Divided Heart se musiek is sielvol en dwing jou om werklik te luister.” (Ilza Roggeband – Huisgenoot – 27 Mei 2004)
“Hettema het werklik ‘n unieke stem…Dit is een van daai min Afrikaanse albums wat “local” musiek vorentoe vat. Hierdie CD werklik ver bo die res…laat uitstyg…is die produksie en musikale versorging…ongelooflik..uniek..iets anders. Liedjies wat Hettema self geskryf het…die hardste praat.” (Wikus du Toit – Popmusiek – Rapport Tydskrif – 12 September 2004)
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