Melinda Hughes graduated with Honours from the Maastricht Conservatory of Music in the Netherlands, then as a postgraduate from the Royal College of Music, London. She spent a year at the Brussels Opera studio and for two years she toured Europe with the André Rieu Strauss Orchestra as a soloist. She has sung over fifteen of the major lyric operatic roles in over forty countries. In 2007 she formed Kiss & Tell Cabaret with co-writers Jeremy Limb and Lloyd Evans.

"A couple of years ago I was searching for new material to perform. I had heard a few Spoliansky songs but couldn’t find any sheet music. Luckily Geraldine Auerbach at the Jewish Music Institute put me in touch with Spolianksy’s grandson, Chris Kelly. This is when my wonderful journey of discovery began. Chris introduced me to Steve Edis (the font of all knowledge Spoliansky). He played me song after delightful song on Spoliansky’s old piano. I was enchanted, not only by the melodies but by the stories that surrounded them. Smoke and Noise “Shall und Rauch” is named after the Berlin Cabaret club Spoliansky wrote for over eighty years ago. Needless to say we are still tackling the same subjects today, hence our very own Kiss and Tell replies."

Track Listing:
1. Life’s a swindle
2. CRUNCH
3. l’heure bleue
4. The Smart set
5. Carbon Footprints in my Jimmy Choos
6. Das Lila Lied
7. Where flamingoes fly
8. I am a vamp
9. Toy Boy
10. Auf der Mundharmonica
11. Close your eyes and wish for happiness
12. Leben ohne liebe kanst du nicht
13. Kleptonmania
14. Smokers Lament
15. Don’t be afraid
16. Auf Wiedersehen

Arrangements by Jeremy Limb.
Total running time: 54.27