I was a huge fan of Janette Mason's first two releases, Din and Tonic (2005) and Alien Left Hand (2009). Assembling a truly mouth-watering cast of vocalists, D'Ranged sees the pianist, arranger and composer completely shift her focus from composing duties to reimagining nine songs by Bowie, Bacharach, The Bee Gees, Stevie Wonder and more. The album kicks off with a lapel-grabbing ‘I Wish’ by the great young Texan vocalist Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield, a semi-finalist in the 2010 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition and a real talent. Basement Jaxx vocalist, Vula Malinga, gives magisterial performances of ‘Got To Be Real’ and ‘I Say A Little Prayer’, the latter also featuring a brilliant backing vocal arrangement. A thrilling account of Bowie's ‘Lady Grinning Soul’ sees David McAlmont disappearing off the upper reaches of the treble clef. The album's one instrumental, a complete reworking of ‘Ashes To Ashes’, is a typically Masonesque confection. Gwyneth Herbert makes her brace of songs entirely her own, ‘This House’ reminding you of just how great this Alison Moyet song is, as well as unearthing hidden lyricism in the rolling grooves of ‘You Do Something To Me’. Mason pulls out all the arranging stops for ‘How Deep Is Your Love’ and ‘Blue Moon’, both of which receive breathtaking, unfailingly beautiful performances from Claire Martin.