Ellen Bindman-Hicks

Ellen's voice is mercurial. Her voice is pearly. Like her photograph on the CD cover where her eyes say it all. Within her young years, she gets it about how life goes. There is humor in her songs and forgiveness.

"Questions": The questions are mature for a young mind. All through the CD there is a delicate cast behind a really full range. Ellen is asking questions for herself and for us too. (...and what are we capable of?) It is timeless. The way she draws out a phrase (...before we fall......) is terrific.

"You're the Words": Ellen's vowels are pure. Like her voice. Her consonants are delicate but precise. So many singers slur words and have no sensitivity to the sound of words. The sound of the words is the moment. Ellen captures the whole of it.

"I Don't Even Know Your Name": "Hey, you"--the words fit right into the melody line. That talent for matching the words to the musical phrase--how "hey you" is drawn out and "I don't even know your name," crisp. The reflections are sharp, catching the perceptions behind the first glance of a moment.

"Can You Trust?": Ellen's voice is so clear. That kind of clear reflects confidence. She sustains long phrases and does so in a clear, pure way. Her vocal range comes into this song. Such a strong, long line within her ability to stretch a phrase out.

"Between Us": Oh, that challenge between a precocious girl and a boy who "can't handle it." Ellen is able to put it into a song and and get it out there, for all the women, especially young women, who have experienced it! Clear. Strong. Articulate.

"Frozen": Beautiful writing. Again her talent for matching the melody to the thoughts. Ellen can draw out one word in a long strong phrase and then deftly let it go. "Frozen" is wonderful, especially for the imagery.

"Plastic Heart": This song could be on the market today. It is tight, crisp. The musical range reminds me of Joni Mitchell--some singers would have a hard time meeting this vocal range.

"When the Two Connect": Ellen knows how to connect her phrases; she deftly links the phrases. This song shows a mature perception and the courage to tell it like it is.

"Write Me a Future": Bless her knowing heart. This song is filled with immense love and beauty.

"More Than a Game": It is as though something happened in her day and she could just put it down, articulate it in subtle emotional ways. The chord shifts are great.

"Journey to Your Heart": Ellen's voice seems mature in this song. More melodic shifts. Her range can take her into anywhere--so it seems easy for her to sound playful.

"Forgiveness is Golden": Here is a fine understanding of how things can go. A remarkable soul. - Janis Young--vocalist, actress, theatre & voice teacher at Bennington College and Williams College,