The insanely talented guitarist Yasmin Williams returns with her beautiful new album Acadia, inspired by nature and offering a dreaming autumnal soundtrack. Acadia means ‘Place of Abundance’ and here is a land of musical plenty.
Opener Cliffwalk has help from Dom Flemons and builds beautifully into an optimistic joyful dance. The tap shoes bring a sense of rhythm and performance to the music, a freedom sound, found in expressing yourself completely. This one was inspired by her time at Newport Folk festival, where she finally felt recognised and had another world of musical possibilities open up for her career.
Harvest features fellow guitarist Kaki King alongside Darien Donovan Thomas and echoes the autumnal hue of the painted album cover. Imagine a walk through the forest in fading sunlight, leaves falling around you, trees changing colour, a shedding that offers hope and renewal. The song is a reminder of how the earth gives back to us, we just need to notice.
Everything on the album feels so fresh and free, like Hummingbird, where the speed of playing is fast but never out of control, like you’re being pulled along the dance floor in the slipstream of euphoria. The spaces and slowing down, the silences within the song only add to that feeling, offering a moment to catch your breath before you’re whirling around again. The title hints at the fragility of nature, something small needing protection among the hurricanes of life.
On ‘Virga’ Darlingside join the song and offer the first singing, and only lyrics of the album. Their rich layers of harmonies are sweetly reminiscent of Simon & Garfunkel. Another track which features vocals is ‘Dawning’, which has Aoife O’Donovan wordlessly singing along, adding melody without saying a word. The listener too may find themselves making up words and melodies, dances even as the album progresses. That’s not to say that instrumental music sounds unfinished – there’s just something here in the style and varied collaborators that feels like an invitation to join in.
Sisters is a slower beauty, the strings sounding heavenly. Dream Lake begins like a walk up to the Rocky Mountains, before the electric guitar comes in and reminds us that music sometimes is as raw and alive as any scene in nature.
Final song ‘Malamu’ is the most experimental on the album, leaning into jazz and rock while building towards a flourish, which feels like a breakthrough to a whole new style.
An original sound, inventive vision, pushing the boundaries of what ‘folk’ music means, ‘Acadia’ is a delightful dance through the golden hour.
BUY: https://yasminwilliams.bandcamp.com/album/acadia
Bandcamp Interview: https://daily.bandcamp.com/features/yasmin-williams-acadia-interview
Guardian Interview: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/08/yasmin-williams-folks-fantastical-fingerpicker-guitar-hero-shaped-my-experimental-approach
Yasmin’s critical analysis of Beyoncé’s ‘country’ album: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/apr/02/beyonce-version-of-country-cowboy-carter-yasmin-williams
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