Beth Bombara’s new album Evergreen was named after a cabin in the Rocky Mountains where she went to escape after a hard touring schedule. There the seeds of this album began to grow – she has described how songs came to her as naturally as how ‘trees exhale oxygen’. Trees also appear on the cover of this album, with a bright yellow patch of colour behind them. The songs on this album reflect those images – rootsy and raw with a ray of light shining through.
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Album Review: Karine Polwart’s Scottish Songbook
Karine Polwart has an artist’s eye for detail, a poet’s way with words and a classic folk singer’s voice. Following on from the powerful Wind Resistance project and Laws of Motion album, to release a collection of covers might seem like an odd turn to the lighter side of music. This new album came from a live show at the International Festival where she performed a number of contemporary Scottish songs, in celebration of our country’s talented songwriters. Rest assured this is not karaoke – these songs have been carefully chosen and majestically arranged. Polwart asks us to think about how songs gain meaning by connecting them to the place they come from. Continue reading “Album Review: Karine Polwart’s Scottish Songbook”
Album Review: Iona Marshall – Higher Than The Leaves
Scottish singer Iona Marshall has entirely written, performed and self produced her new album Higher than The Leaves, released earlier this year. It almost defies categorisation, mixing folk and Celtic music with modern and experimental soundscapes to create a distinctive and unusual album. Continue reading “Album Review: Iona Marshall – Higher Than The Leaves”
Album Review: Lizzie No – Vanity
On her engaging second album Vanity, New York’s Lizzie No expands her sound and contemplates themes such as doomed love and loneliness. Continue reading “Album Review: Lizzie No – Vanity”
Album Review: Jade Jackson – Wilderness
In a recent article for The Bluegrass Situation, Jade Jackson spoke about the central theme of her new album: ‘Loneliness is something I’ve experienced as long as I can remember…I naturally gravitated toward music that evoked that feeling and when I started writing and creating art, it was my biggest inspiration.’ Wilderness take us to some lonely places, exploring her inner turmoil and channeling her influences to create an emotionally cathartic collection of songs. Continue reading “Album Review: Jade Jackson – Wilderness”
Favourite Albums of 2019 So Far
In 2019 so far I have reviewed nearly forty albums and E.P.s (and listened to many more) so I thought I would try to assess the year overall and decide on my what albums have been my favourites. Continue reading “Favourite Albums of 2019 So Far”
Album Review: Runaway June – Blue Roses
Country trio Runaway June are comprised of Naomi Cooke on lead vocals and guitar; Hannah Mulholland on vocals and mandolin and Jennifer Wayne on vocals and guitar. The girls have become the first all female trio to gain two country top 40 hits in a decade and their new album Blue Roses is released in the same month as their name – a fitting choice for a light and fun summer album of sweet country pop. Continue reading “Album Review: Runaway June – Blue Roses”
Album Review: Erin Durant – Islands
The sunny side of the street is where we meet Erin Durant, a musician who hails from New Orleans and now lives in New York. She attracted attention when the New York Times wrote about how she likes to transport a real piano to all her shows. Such authentic attention to detail tells you much about this intriguing artist. Her music is hushed indie folk, a simple dream that takes you on the most lovely journey to the Islands. Continue reading “Album Review: Erin Durant – Islands”
Album Review: Bedouine – Bird Songs of a Killjoy
On her second album Syrian born, LA based songwriter Azniv Korkejian casts herself as Bedouine the bird and the killjoy. Her songs flutter and sigh with a serene summertime sadness. Her music continues to evoke the vintage sixties folk sound of her debut, with added lush orchestral swirls inspired by French movie soundtracks as much as Nick Drake. Continue reading “Album Review: Bedouine – Bird Songs of a Killjoy”