Album Review: Victoria Bailey – A Cowgirl Rides On

Here’s a new album for any drifters, daydreamers and seekers out there. Victoria Bailey sounds like an old world-weary cowgirl, searching through song for answers to the big questions of love and life. ‘A Cowgirl Rides On’ is a collection of stunning songs surely meant to be sung outside under endless starry skies.

Interesting then that the title track is inspired by the memoir ‘Distant Skies’ by Melissa Priblo Chapman. In the book she recounts the story of travelling across America on horseback. This haunting ballad takes you on that epic journey, out into the wilderness, back to nature in its most primitive form. Most of us are stuck in suburban landscapes, here’s a musical dreamscape of another way of life – the call of the wild echoing and whispering in our musical hearts.

‘Waiting at the Gate’ is a classic country gospel song where she’s celebrating her faith with a catchy fiddle hook and shuffle across the dance floor.

From there we switch from the church to another favourite haunt of country music – the honky tonk. ‘Forever You & I’ has her in a bar, drowning the end of a doomed relationship. The song details her healing, but can’t help lingering on her bittersweet memories. Her voice is softer here but still equally engaging.

‘Snake Trails’ takes the tempo up, riding out through the canyon into the dangerous territory of the West. The tone of the music feels glorious, in the golden heat of the trail, endless dangers become new adventures. Escapism through the sound of the past.

‘End of the Line’ has a wistful, mournful feel where she celebrates the sadness inherent in life. Sabina is a sweet waltz, before ‘Down From the Mountain’ offers a folk song of redemption and forgiveness.

She finishes off in ‘Sweet By & By’ with a prayer and a call to heaven, which feels fitting coming from an angelic voice like this.

So yes ‘A Cowgirl Rides On’ is good enough to restore your faith in country music. A gorgeous record and at only half an hour long you’ll immediately want to play this one again.

BUY: https://www.victoriabaileymusic.com