Thursday 2 December 2010

Interview with Emily Maguire for Fatea

Fourteen months after the last time, Fatea had the opportunity to catch up with singer songwriter Emily Maguire in Newcastle, to chat about her new book,  her recent radio admission, mental health and her upcoming tour with a well known name...


HM:  Hi Emily. It is so great to see you up in Newcastle again. It feels like ages.
EM: It’s been a while, hasn’t it.  Over a year?
HM: Last September, so fourteen months. Wow.
EM: Really? It has been a while.  It’s good to be back.  Here’s your copy of the book.
HM:  Oh, great, thanks, I can’t wait to read it!
EM:  Don’t feel you have to read it all at once.  It’s kind of a dip and in and out book. There’s the prologue which kind of tells my story, then diary entries, song lyrics, poetry, you’ll see...
HM:  Good for bathtime reading then?
EM: Yes, or the toilet! (laughs)
HM:  Ok, well, would you just like to tell me about how the book came about?  It’s called Start Over Again, the same as one of your songs. Why is that?
EM: Well, the song, Start Over Again is basically my life story in three and a half minutes and as the book talks about those events...
HM: So how did the book come about?
EM: Well, I don’t really know.  I just had all this writing.  I’ve always written, ever since I was a kid, even when I was really young, I’d write stories that I’d start and never finish, and poetry, too.  Then when I was a teenager I had a journal.  I wouldn’t write in it every day, just if something was going on. Basically I’d write if I was happy or I was sad and I’d write when I was insane and when I was in mental hospitals .  I ended up with about thirty journals and all these ideas for lyrics for songs too.  One day my partner, Christian, just said “I think you should type all this up.”   That was all he said, and I did.  It was quite harrowing, as I hadn’t read some of it since I’d written it and some of it was writing from times when I wasn’t well at all, when I’d been having a breakdown.  It was a bit like kind of opening your closet and pulling every skeleton out and looking at them, which, funnily enough, makes them a lot less scary. You know, to actually confront your past like that.  So in a way it would be quite cathartic and at times I’d be like, ‘Why am I doing this?’  Christian would just say to just keep writing and right up to the last minute I didn’t know if I was going to publish it.  As you know, I’ve done a lot of radio and press interviews and I’ve never talked about it before and I wasn’t sure whether I wanted to do it.  I’ve had friends tell me if I talk about this I’d never play in America; you know, there is still that huge amount of stigma about mental illness and I did wonder if I was going to kill my career stone dead by coming out about this.  I wondered if every producer at Radio 2 who currently likes my stuff would think, ‘Well, she’s a nutter, I’m not gonna get her on my programme again’ and all those sorts of possibilities.
HM: They haven’t though.
EM: No.  In the end I just thought ‘Stuff it.’  It was launched on Radio 2 on World Mental Health Day – 10.10.10 and the response the programme got – it was launched on Good Morning Sunday  and they trailed it the week before – they got so many emails and texts in response to it and they read some out on air the following week  - and I just got so many messages  - emails and comments on Facebook, people saying they’d had a manic episode and never told anyone, and it means so much that I’d come out and said this and was really brave.   Everybody said I was brave which is scary after a while but it’s been amazing, it really has, to me coming out about it and I’m so glad that I did. (smiles huge smile)
HM: No regrets then?
EM: No, none at all, because, well, someone put it really perfectly the other night when I was doing a gig – they said it’s added a whole new dimension to my songs, now people can understand where they come from.
HM: That’s exactly what I was just thinking.  I mean, you’ve said things and certain lyrics have suggested, but now its out in the open, the lyrics do have a whole new layer of meaning. 
EM: Exactly. If you take a song like I’d Rather Be, which was played on Radio 2 a lot earlier this year, they’d think it was just a chirpy little song, or whatever, but actually I wrote that just a few months after coming out of hospital for the first time, when I’d just been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder.  When I came out of hospital, I was absolutely terrified because I’d just lost my mind completely and they’d told me that if it happened again they didn’t know if they could bring me back and they’d diagnosed this mental illness that was incurable and all the rest of it. But a few months later I started to feel strong again and thought, you know, that actually there is an upside to this, there’s a silver lining to the cloud and the silver lining is music. I wouldn’t write songs the way that I do if I didn’t have it.  So I’d Rather Be is saying I’d rather have it than not have it – it’s choices and that’s the choice that I’ve made.   Or at least the one that I make when I’m feeling well.  (laughs)
HM:  That’s an amazing place to be able to get to though, isn’t it?
EM:  Exactly, exactly.  That’s the point of the song.  The song doesn’t really have half the power it does if you don’t know where it’s coming from.   Though that’s kind of nonsense, because the thing about songs to be careful with, from my point of view, is it’s not actually about me.  You know, if I sing you a song and it resonates with you, it’s because it’s your song now.  You know, it’s your story, you really relate to something in it, it’s yours.  That was a bit of a worry that if it was all about me it might spoil it.
HM: I’m smiling because that’s pretty much what Gretchen Peters always says – that songs become ours – we were just talking about her when we were chatting before.
EM:  yeah?  It’s true though isn’t it? I mean, all my favourite songs by other artists – they’re all about me. (laughs)  You fall in love with music don’t you? I mean, I remember when I first heard Suzanne Vega’s song, Gypsy, I loved that song.   I went to see her live in London and just sat there with tears pouring.  When I was sixteen I went to live in France and used to sing it every day but I forgot a verse and had no music with me at the time. So yeah that song really resonated but I didn’t know why Suzanne Vega wrote it.  In fact, I found out last year why she wrote it and it kind of spoiled it a little bit. (laughs)
HM: That’s probably true of lots of songs.
EM: Yeah, maybe, though from an interest level – but the feedback I’ve had from fans has been really positive.
HM:  I guess it explains that one line you just didn’t quite get.
EM: Yeah, an example is Keep Walking – Terry Wogan would play it on radio 2 and everyone would say it was about talcum powder – you know, there’s a verse where it talks about ‘She’s high Sunday night, another line will see the light...’  and people were thinking it was about cocaine.  Actually, it’s about a manic episode, about Bipolar Disorder ; the traffic lights changing colour and everything. I didn’t really even realise what it was about until much later on. I didn’t know why I said another line would see the light as lots of lines just fell out onto the page. It was about writing. When I get on a high I write masses, lyrics just pool in my head all the time.  So that’s what it’s about (laughs) and there’s old Wogan thinking that’s not what I’m talking about...
HM: I also noticed the other day your Radio 4 interview with Woman’s Hour is still up there.  That was a while ago wasn’t it?
EM: Yeah, wow, really, that’s cool. Normally you can only listen back on radio for a week.
HM: Yeah and you remember the day after the week’s up, every time.
EM: Yeah (laughs)
HM: So, what’s the plan with the book now then, is it just available through the website?
EM: No, no, you can get it from my website, or from Amazon, Waterstones, you know us, we’re very into the whole DIY thing..that’s the great thing about the internet and living in this day and age...but you can order it from bookshops too.
HM: So which section does it come under in a bookshop then? Music? Health? Biography?
EM: I don’t know, I don’t know. It comes under a lot of sections. It even has poetry.
HM: Where would you put it?
EM: I don’t know, you know. I really don’t know.  It’s a lot to do with breakdowns and searching for something, so I guess mind body spirit would be relevant, too.  My whole aim of it is to put a positive spin on mental illness.  It’s based on the song which is about the three major breakdowns I’ve had – each time you break down, you have to pick up the pieces and start over again.  Anyone who’s had anything happen to them, grief or anything, you know, you can feel like it’s the end of the world and you don’t know how you’re going to move on from it. Yet as long as you keep going, always it turns out to be a new beginning. It’s not the end at all, it’s the start of a new chapter but it’s very, very traumatic while that change is happening.   For me being Buddhist has helped me survive that, as the thing with Bipo9lar is after the high you have a depression. To me, killing myself was never an option – it’d be like throwing yourself out of the frying pan into the fire and there are a lot of people who don’t have that view on life and death.  So they don’t survive it always.   I accept the fact that I will have more episodes because that’s the condition that I’ve got, so it is quite likely that I will lose my mind again. Although it’s something that scares me, to be honest with you, it’s something that I’ve got to accept may happen and each time that it happens I know that I can get through it.  I’ve been there enough times to know that I can pick myself up and move on and get on with my life again and find some positive in it as well.
HM: Can I ask how long it usually lasts?
EM: Yeah, well, it varies.  A high can be a few months in the making or it can happen very quickly. The depression that follows usually lasts quite a few months.  As an example, I had a breakdown at the beginning of this year, when the single was on the radio and I was doing artist of the month gigs for Caffe Nero. I was supposed to be doing a tour and I had the crisis team coming round every morning to give me drugs then at night I’d go and do my gig and smile at everyone and pretend I was normal.
HM: Timing is always great isn’t it?

EM:Well, it was quite something.   I think I probably started to get ill in November last year  and it reached the peak in January when I was referred to mental health services  - I’m on drugs all the time, but they increased it to a dose that started to stabilise me.  Then the depression came and lasted about three months so by about May I was starting to feel a bit better  and then I had writer’s block – that always follows after a depression, having written so much in January while I was high. Then I wrote a song in August, so probably about six months cycle.   That was without hospitalisation which is pretty traumatic so I was really pleased I was able to be treated at home.
HM: Do you think you know the signs now and caught it earlier?
EM: Yeah I think so.  I went to GP who referred me.  Before I’ve gotten to a psychosis before anything was done.
HM: Do you know what your triggers are?
EM: In the past it’s been a crisis or upset, but envioronmental  factors can affect me, and if I mess around with my drugs, and stress...I’m learning to manage it.  I have Bipolar type 1, which is the most extreme form of the disorder. Most people who have that are continually cycling with great delusional highs and very severe depressions, but I’m remarkably stable most of the time.   I started meditating too, after being diagnosed when I was twenty three – I had my first breakdown at sixteen.  I started with five minutes of meditation and have built it up.  It has helped me so much just to have a bit of stillness and quiet to focus on what my day will be like.
HM: So, what’s next for Emily Maguire?
EM: Well, I’m writing and working on the new album and we’ve just confirmed a five month tour next year, starting in February opening for Dennis Locorriere from Dr. Hook. So that’s exciting.
HM: Wow, another great tour then.
EM:  Yeah. I know.  I’ll let you know if it’ll bring me back up here!
HM: Yes, do!  Well, I’ll let you go and get sorted.  Thanks so much for that and for the book.
EM: Thank you.  Let me know what you think, and see you after the gig?
HM: Of course, see you then. Enjoy it!
EM: We will!



Saturday 6 November 2010

Don Conoscenti - Extremely Live at Eddie's attic

Don Conoscenti -  Extremely Live at Eddie's attic
Chicago native, Colorado-based singer-songwriter Don Conoscenti is a highly respected musician and songwriter.  He spent 10 years in Atlanta, Georgia, some of them working on his musical skills at Eddie's Attic, revered venue of many a fine singer songwriter, from Gretchen Peters to the Indigo Girls.   In December 2001, Conoscenti returned to Atlanta for two performances, neither of which he realised at the time, were being recorded.  The result is this 20 track CD, Extremely Live at Eddie's Attic and its magic lies in that as it wasn’t intentionally recorded it has a wonderfully relaxed, natural feel about it.
The CD opens with Into/ Tipi in Oklahoma and What Else Could I Do? inspired by some time spent one summer summer in a tipi in Oklahoma reading a biography of Crazy Horse.  The song looks at Crazy Horse and beyond.  I won’t spoil it by revealing the story, but quite simply, it is storytelling at its best, beautifully conjuring an image of the American West.

For the rest of the CD, Conoscenti, or Don Con, as he often refers to himself, effortlessly switches between guitar and banjo, showing his incredible musical talent.  His voice, throughout the CD is absolutely unique – prior to seeing him perform with Sam Baker I had never heard a voice quite like it. 

The other magical element to this CD is the introductions to his songs, the vignettes that set the scene for each story.  Usually these are omitted or cut short for live CDs, but for this one they are often several minutes long.  This has always been one of my favourite parts about seeing an artist perform live, so to get to hear a full set, with vignettes, is wonderful and makes the songs all the more meaningful to the listener.

This has fast become one of my favourites and I look forward to hearing more from Don Con and I hope, seeing him play some solo shows here in the UK.  Paradox of Grace concludes the CD, but I think the greatest paradox is that he is not much more well known.  I am however, confident that his time will come.

Marathon – Darden Smith

Marathon – Darden Smith
Tracks: 15

Darden Smith is one of Austin’s most revered musicians, and with an impressive catalogue over twenty five years, (one CD of which saw him collaborate with British folk singer Boo Hewerdine)  to his name already, Marathon is his new release.
Interestingly, the result wasn’t quite what Smith set out to create. After composing a performance work for the Austin Symphony Orchestra in 1999, Smith, known primarily as a singer-songwriter,
wanted to challenge himself with another large symphony or theatrepiece. He experimented with different approaches until settling in 2003 on an idea for a song cycle, a set of songs that could later integrate aseries of monologues for the stage.  The result was Marathon.
The album is not about a race, but rather is inspired by and evocative of the stunning country out in the far West of Texas.  Marathon, for those who are wondering, is a small railroad town north of the Big Bend, on a grassy plain below the Glass Mountains – that’s a part of Texas I haven’t yet visited but must.  I suspect that Darden Smith’s greatest skill is that he creates the images and atmosphere of that sprawling land that is Texas, every bit as well as fellow Texans Tom Russell, Sam Baker and Kimmie Rhodes, or indeed author Cormac McCarthy.   I have found that once you have been to Texas it gets under your skin and stays there; something about Smith’s writing about Texas has the same effect.   In fact he has himself described Marathon as a place of mind and says the songs of Marathon are as much about the places within us all.

It is almost impossible to select standout tracks, as somehow the CD is greater than the sum of its parts, but perhaps Sierra Diablo, Marathon Sky, Tinaja and 75 Miles of Nothing are the most striking. 
Well worth a listen whether you love Texas or have never been and I wonder what this CD has the potential to become...

Larkin Poe - Summer EP

Larkin Poe – Summer EP
tracks: 9

Summer follows Spring, not only in life, but in the EP set being launched by Larkin Poe.  Equally wonderful, it shows progress, in their style and sound.  Whilst at times it seems they have moved forward, at times they also seem to flash back to their Lovell Sisters days, but whatever, the result is a fabulous EP of over 30 minutes of music.
From the opening track, Praying For The Bell, it seems that the two have started the EP as they mean to continue, paving the way for a further eight great tracks and some wonderful musicianship throughout.  Natalie is the only song on the EP written by Megan Lovell, but it is exquisite.

Unusually, the final three tracks were recorded live, which in my opinion not only gives us a flavour of their sound live, but gives these three songs a slightly different edge,  adding to the eclectic sound of the EP.
I have to admit though, my favourite moment on the disc could be easily missed.  In the opening bars of  Wrestling A Stranger Rebecca's voice cracks for a mere split second during the line "The fields are on fire."  I love that rather than edit it out, they opted to leave it be; evidence of a singer’s vulnerability, enhancing a song about our frailty and vulnerability as people.
Spring and Summer have been revelations; I await whatever Autumn and Winter hold in store for us...

It All Comes Back to Love– Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin

It All Comes Back to Love– Stephanie Bettman and Luke Halpin

It All Comes Back To Love is California’s Stephanie Bettman’s second CD and the long awaited follow up to 2007’s fabulous Get Close To Me.


For the writing, recording and production, Stephanie collaborated with long time band member Luke Halpin (who has played with Lonestar and Merle Haggard, among others),  to produce a CD of which they should be proud.  Halpin offers harmony vocals throughout the CD, aswell as  guitar, fiddle and mandolin, which adds to the eclectic sound.  All eleven songs were written by Bettman, Halpin, or both.

Betttman has been compared to Joan Baez and Emmylou Harris and as soon as you hear her sing, it is easy to see why, such is the richness of her stunning vocals as she effortlessly combines the sounds of  Americana, bluegrass, folk and classic country .

The standout track is perhaps the stunning  ballad, Leavin’ New York, where the emotion in her voice is palpable.   However, there are also soime fabulous upbeat, certainly radio friendly songs, such as Stiff Upper Lip, I Just Wanna Love You and Fiddler’s Bend.

I look forward to hearing more from Stephanie Bettman as I think she has a great musical future ahead.  I highly recommend that you look her up and add both this and her earlier CD to your collection.

Fall For Beauty – Lynn Miles

Fall For Beauty – Lynn  Miles
Tracks – 10
www.lynnmilesmusic.com
The first thing I have to note about this CD is that the cover art is exquisite.  The second is that I didn’t think Ottowa’s  Lynn Miles could produce a song which would outdo Casinos el Camino (from 2005’s Love Sweet Love CD), which spent a long time on repeat in my house.  Do you know?  I think maybe she has given it some touch competition.
Often compared to contemporaries such as Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Gretchen Peters and Kim Richey, it is easy to say why; she is lyrical and articulate and creates stories within her songs, moments in time.  There is also just something about her voice that you just cannot resist, regardless of whether it leans more towards her folk or her pop tendencies.

To select just a few songs from the ten, all penned by Lynn Miles, is tricky, but here goes... Three Chords and The Truth, rather than being a cover of the Harlan Howard song, is her expression of what she still looks for, perhaps an indication of her musical integrity.  Cracked and Broken, rather than being a cover of the Diana Jones song, is very much her own, emotion-filled track.  Love Doesn’t Hurt is stripped back to just Lynn’s vocals and acoustic guitar, to create a stirring story of domestic abuse.  Goodbye is not the Patty Griffin song, but a song lamenting the end of a relationship and the emotions that accompany it.  More upbeat are the wonderful Fearless Heart and the optimistic Time to Let The Sun.

Any Lynn Miles fan should have this CD in their collection and anyone who hasn’t heard of her would do well to start with this wonderful collection of songs - an opportunity indeed to 'fall for beauty.'

Fall or Fly – Adrian Nation

Fall or Fly – Adrian Nation

Tracks: 12
www.myspace.com/adriannation

UK native Adrian Nation was a new name to me and it turns out that this is a re-release of a CD first launched in 2009.
On listening to the CD, it is immediately obvious that his guitar playing far outdoes his vocal performance.  That said, he makes this CD work, as he sings of a variety of life experiences, with an impressive energy.


The Other Side of The night, or Song for Maria is perhaps the standout track on the CD, written for the funeral of one of his best friends; instead of being depressing as it could have been, it becomes a musical celebration of a life well lived. Uilean pipes add an unusual and uplifting touch to this song, too.

Balance, or The Ballad of Clacton describes his experience of observing a boat struggling against the wind and waves and turns this observation into a metaphor for our lives.

That is simply to select two songs from the CD, which particularly stood out for me.  That is not to say the others are bad; indeed, they are all well written, often touching on difficult experiences and all featuring the earlier mentioned exquisite guitar playing, particularly on songs such as the emotion-laden Brightest Star and Five Finger Rapids. The CD is worth a listen for that alone.

Miracles on Christmas Day – Kimmie Rhodes

Miracles on Christmas Day – Kimmie Rhodes
Tracks: 12
www.myspace.com/kimmierhodes

I had no idea that Texas singer songwriter Kimmie Rhodes was working on a Christmas CD, her first such project, so I couldn’t wait to get this into my player, even if it is barely November!
The story goes that one Christmas, years ago, inspired while watching her friend Willie Nelson open multiple packages all containing platinum records of his beloved song, Pretty Paper, Kimmie pledged to write a holiday song every year. Now, as a gift to her fans and friends worldwide, she and her son, musician Gabe Rhodes have collaborated on brilliant new productions of each of those songs, along with her producer husband Joe Gracey and a wonderful group of musicians;  Kimmie Rhodes  on vocals and rhythm guitar, Gabriel (Gabe) Rhodes (Kimmie’s son) on guitars, mandolin, keyboards, glass harp and vocals, vocals, Hunt Sales on drums, percussion and bells, Glen Fukunaga on bass, Brian Standifer on cello,  steel guitar,  John Mills on clarinet, saxophone and flute,  Floyd Domino on piano, Joel Guzman on accordion and guitar and, last but not least, Nigel Eaton on the wonderfully named hurdy gurdy.  Recorded in Kimmie and Joe’s own Sunbird Recording Studios in Austin, Texas, the CD features mostly tunes penned by Kimmie herself.  However, it also  includes a stirring cover of Patty Griffin’s exquisite Mary and two intriguing versions of Christmas classics, namely , Carol of the Bells, (which, I have since learned, is an ancient pagan Ukrainian chant), and What Child is This (set to the tune of Greensleeves – trust me, it works!).
To me, this CD is of the same caliber as Christmas offerings by such artists as Gretchen Peters and Mary Chapin Carpenter.  Why?  Simply because they are perfect to play in your living room with a lit fire,  burning candles and a mug of hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night.  It is as much a ‘winter’ CD as it is a ‘Christmas’ CD and at this time of year should have a place in every music lover’s ‘frequently played’ pile.

Sunday 10 October 2010

Introducing...Ruth Trimble (EP) - Ruth Trimble

Introducing...Ruth Trimble  (EP)

Ruth Trimble

Tracks: 5


Derry native Ruth Trimble was an unknown name to me until I saw her play with Beth Nielsen Chapman on her recent tour.  Wanting to share her talents, Beth also had Ruth perform one of her own songs- she certainly wowed.

Classically trained in piano and cello from a young age, Ruth only developed her passion for music when she decided she held a preference for playing by ear. Since then, she has taught herself to play an impressive variety of instrument; guitar, drums, and bass.

In 2008, Ruth invested in some recording equipment, resulting in the production of this, her debut EP which was released this past Februarry.  It features Grammy-nominated Will Owsley playing guitar, Ruth having  met Will through her connections to singer songwriter Amy Grant, with whom he was touring at the time.

Ruth’s EP comprises five tracks; four she wrote herself.  The opening track. Tonight, is a story of heartbreak and regret, Ruth’s beautiful voice filled with raw emotion.  The pensive You Took My Heart comprises simple yet stunning piano accompaniment and Goodbye just cuts straight to the heart. Fighter is a more upbeat, hopeful song, with a country, rather than folk, sound, showing a different depth to Ruth’s vocal. This is perhaps my favourite on the EP.  I Want to Hold Your Hand is a striking version of The Beatle’s song, which respectfully makes it entirely her own. It was penned, way back when, by Lennon and McCartney; fitting then that I should be reviewing this EP on what would have been Lennon’s 70th  birthday.  I hope that coincidence is a sign that this EP is just the beginning for Ruth Trimble and that her debut CD release will bring her the greater recognition she deserves.

NB Ruth's EP is currently available to download from iTunes, or hard copies can be ordered directly by sending an e-mail to info@ruthtrimble.com

Celilo Falls - Rachel Harrington

Celilo Falls
Rachel Harrington
Tracks: 13
So, those of us here in the UK and Europe are lucky – Rachel Harrington’s brand new CD, Celilo Falls
 [pronounced suh-LIE-low], is released here in November, then in the USA in January 2011. 
This new offering is Oregon born (but living in Seattle, when not on tour in the UK and Europe for three months every summer) Rachel’s fourth CD in four years  (her third ‘official’ release).  Whilst ostensibly still a wonderful melting pot of of Americana, folk, country and even blues and Gospel, there is no denying that Rachel has taken a new direction, and perhaps her biggest leap of faith with this album. Namely, that leap of faith was advice given her years ago by  ace Boston singer songwriter Lori McKenna, to write from the heart about what she really felt, to write about her own personal experience.  Rachel listened to the advice, thought it through, then filed it away...until now.  Recalling that advice has resulted in the most emotional songwriting and the most stunning delivery yet from Ms Harrington, on a CD which puts her in a whole new place.
The title is intriguing; Celilo Falls takes its name from a stretch of waterfalls along the Columbia River that divides the states of Oregon and Washington. Since the building of the giant Dalles dam in the early ‘50’s, the once raging and bountiful Celilo Falls has been completely buried, submerged under the backwater of progress. The significance, Rachel has said is in that not only is this album a trip into this Western landscape, taking us back in time maybe 100 years, but that a  lot of this record is, for her, about what lies beneath. Thus it has become a musical juxtaposition of concepts.
The musicianship on this CD is simply wonderful, from Ronnie McCoury (Del McCoury Band), Rod Clements (Lindisfarne, and her touring partner in the UK and Europe during summer 2010), Dan Salini (Atomic Deluxe, Doug Wintch), Colby Sander, and Jon Hamar. Together they add a richness to the sound of every song, whilst allowing Rachel’s beautiful, soulful voice to shine through the spaces between them.
I can’t fault any of the songs included on the CD, but have to give first mention to the beautiful Goodbye Amsterdam, possibly my favourite of all she has written thus far.  Basically it is about going back to places you shared with someone in your life, but they aren’t there anymore and seem to haunt those places.   Exquisite and surely anyone who has lost someone they love will relate to the aching in her vocal. You’ll Do, is almost tongue in cheek, very much reminding me of Elizabeth Cook’s more ‘playful’ songs.  Rachel often speaks of her upbringing by right wing Pentecostalists; she has pondered how she ever became a folk singer, before determining that she thinks this explains her love of Gospel music. This has resulted in a beautiful Gospel song which she wrote for the CD, He Started Building My Mansion in Heaven Today, inspired by a comment her grandfather made to her.  Just beautiful.  Little Pink is another fantastic song , as is House of Cards, with its real bluegrass sound, and Here in My Bed is likely to resonate with a lot of people.
I could say more, but really, you need to hear this collection of songs to appreciate just how stunning a CD it is; it has fallen straight into my top CD of 2010 slot and hasn’t been out of my CD player since it arrived.  If there is any justice in the world,  Celilo Falls will find its place among the best material out there and make Rachel Harrington a name more people recognise.  Give it a spin on your player, or at least on the free listening bandcamp page  - if not You Don’t Know what you’re missing.

When the Time Comes – Eilidh Patterson

When the Time Comes – Eilidh Patterson
Tracks: 12

Eilidh Patterson was an unknown name to me until I saw her play with Beth Nielsen Chapman on her recent tour.  Clearly having recognised her talents, Beth also had Eilidh perform one of her own songs- I wonder how many ‘wows’ were emitted night after night.
Eilidh Patterson hails from Derry in Northern  Ireland and When The Time Comes is her debut CD, expertly produced by none other than U2's sound engineer, Alastair McMillan. Written over a period of seven years, the CD has a distinctly folk sound, yet carries a modern twist.
What is immediately striking is the purity of Elidh’s voice; you could listen to her sing for hours. Moving On, the first single from the album, was inspired at a time when Eilidh was thinking of moving from Derry to Belfast a few years ago. It’s a song about being content with change – something I suspect many of us grapple with.  Precious Cargo speaks of longing, many will connect with the loss explored in Letting Go (not to be confused with the Suzy Bogguss/ Doug Crider song of the same title – this was written by Eilidh) Do I Eve Cross Your Mind was inspired when watching a Willie Nelson gig in Austin, Texas a couple of years ago.  Ostensibly lamenting a lost love, it is lyrically quite brilliant, even incorporating other well known song titles.  You Are There touches on the idea of faith, and It’s Easy is full of the joy evoked when embarking upon a new relationship. 
However, for me, the absolute standout track is the beautiful Still Learning. The idea for the song was planted when Eilidh received a copper plaque from a friend, inscribed with the quote; I Am Still Learning" - Michaelangelo.  Articulately written, it begins with the perspective of a baby learning to walk then moves through to adulthood. It is particularly evident in this song what a fine wordsmith Eilidh is, and at times she uses words and lines worthy of a Gretchen Peters or Beth Nielsen Chapman song.

This is one of the strongest debut CDs I have had the pleasure of listening to and am already looking forward to seeing what else Eilidh Patterson has in store. For now, this CD belongs in everyone’s collection, as I suspect that I am still learning, as are the rest of her fans, what her talents truly are.


Saturday 9 October 2010

When the Time Comes – Eilidh Patterson

When the Time Comes – Eilidh Patterson

Celilo Falls - Rachel Harrington

Celilo Falls
Rachel Harrington
Tracks: 13
So, those of us here in the UK and Europe are lucky – Rachel Harrington’s brand new CD, Celilo Falls
 [pronounced suh-LIE-low], is released here in November, then in the USA in January 2011. 
This new offering is Oregon born (but living in Seattle, when not on tour in the UK and Europe for three months every summer) Rachel’s fourth CD in four years  (her third ‘official’ release).  Whilst ostensibly still a wonderful melting pot of of Americana, folk, country and even blues and Gospel, there is no denying that Rachel has taken a new direction, and perhaps her biggest leap of faith with this album. Namely, that leap of faith was advice given her years ago by  ace Boston singer songwriter Lori McKenna, to write from the heart about what she really felt, to write about her own personal experience.  Rachel listened to the advice, thought it through, then filed it away...until now.  Recalling that advice has resulted in the most emotional songwriting and the most stunning delivery yet from Ms Harrington, on a CD which puts her in a whole new place.
The title is intriguing; Celilo Falls takes its name from a stretch of waterfalls along the Columbia River that divides the states of Oregon and Washington. Since the building of the giant Dalles dam in the early ‘50’s, the once raging and bountiful Celilo Falls has been completely buried, submerged under the backwater of progress. The significance, Rachel has said is in that not only is this album a trip into this Western landscape, taking us back in time maybe 100 years, but that a  lot of this record is, for her, about what lies beneath. Thus it has become a musical juxtaposition of concepts.
The musicianship on this CD is simply wonderful, from Ronnie McCoury (Del McCoury Band), Rod Clements (Lindisfarne, and her touring partner in the UK and Europe during summer 2010), Dan Salini (Atomic Deluxe, Doug Wintch), Colby Sander, and Jon Hamar. Together they add a richness to the sound of every song, whilst allowing Rachel’s beautiful, soulful voice to shine through the spaces between them.
I can’t fault any of the songs included on the CD, but have to give first mention to the beautiful Goodbye Amsterdam, possibly my favourite of all she has written thus far.  Basically it is about going back to places you shared with someone in your life, but they aren’t there anymore and seem to haunt those places.   Exquisite and surely anyone who has lost someone they love will relate to the aching in her vocal. You’ll Do, is almost tongue in cheek, very much reminding me of Elizabeth Cook’s more ‘playful’ songs.  Rachel often speaks of her upbringing by right wing Pentecostalists; she has pondered how she ever became a folk singer, before determining that she thinks this explains her love of Gospel music. This has resulted in a beautiful Gospel song which she wrote for the CD, He Started Building My Mansion in Heaven Today, inspired by a comment her grandfather made to her.  Just beautiful.  Little Pink is another fantastic song , as is House of Cards, with its real bluegrass sound, and Here in My Bed is likely to resonate with a lot of people.
I could say more, but really, you need to hear this collection of songs to appreciate just how stunning a CD it is; it has fallen straight into my top CD of 2010 slot and hasn’t been out of my CD player since it arrived.  If there is any justice in the world,  Celilo Falls will find its place among the best material out there and make Rachel Harrington a name more people recognise.  Give it a spin on your player, or at least on the free listening bandcamp page  - if not You Don’t Know what you’re missing.

Peppermint Radio – Kate Walsh

Peppermint Radio – Kate Walsh
Tracks: 11
www.myspace.com/katewalsh

I will begin with an interesting fact:  singer songwriter Kate Walsh is the only unsigned artist ever to have had a number one album on the iTunes chart. Not to mention that she has played with Mark Knopfler and had songs featured on Grey’s Anatomy.  Thus it is something of a mystery to me that she is not better known.  Her fourth CD, Peppermint Radio, has possibly the best title I’ve heard all year.   It is a  compliation of covers of songs from the 1980s and  1990s; as these songs were from her childhood, Walsh chose the album name because, as a child, she used to make believe that  her sewing machine was a mixing deck and that she was working on a radio station named Peppermint Radio.

Admittedly I am not usually a big fan over cover songs, much less whole albums of them, yet something about this CD undoubtedly works.   Perhaps the greatest reason for this is that they are not all obvious songs which hold a risk of becoming tacky; rather, they are songs which clearly hold meaning for Kate herself. This certainly comes through in her delivery. From Erasure’s A Little Respect to Blur’s Beetlebum, by way of Duran Duran’s Save a Prayer to EMF’s  Unbelievable, it is evident that there was a conscious decision not to attempt to mimick or recreate the original version.  Rather, Walsh opted to pay these songs the ultimate honour, and has made them entirely her own.  Thus the songs are not only kept fresh for the listener, we are given the chance to rediscover and appreciate them in a whole new way. That, in my opinion, should earn both Kate Walsh and Peppermint Radio, more than just A Little Respect!

NB Kate Walsh is touring in support of Peppermint Radio during November. Information and dates available at: www.katewalsh.co.uk

Wednesday 6 October 2010

Murphy's Heart - Thea Gilmore

Thea Gilmore – Murphy’s Heart
Tracks: 13
www.myspace.com/theagilmore

With a career spanning 13 years, 11 albums, 3 EPs and 9 singles of articulate, emotionally truthful music,  Oxford-born singer songwriter Thea Gilmore has always received critical acclaim but never achieved the commercial success most of us believe her to be well overdue.  Uncut magazine has described her as '"the best British singer-songwriter of the last 10 years...and then some"    That said, there have been times where she has turned down big label offers, in a bid to retain her artistic integrity and for that I say good on her.
The first thing to mention about Murphy’s Heart, is the cover art; the second, the crystal clear production; from Thea’s vocals to the brass and horns.  The third  is the excellent musicianship from the band, including Thea’s husband/ producer Nigel Stonier. That’s before we even get to Thea’s singing. There are often times when Thea brings to mind such greats as Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, in both her lyrics and her delivery. God's Got Nothing On You showcases Thea’s stunning vocals and Love's the Greatest Instrument of Rage is faster paced folk, highlighting the well known political edge to Thea’s songs. Automatic Blue is a laidback drive through the American Midwest, whilst Teach me to be bad takes on an upbeat country sound. You're the Radio  is already proving to be a hit with radio, gaining much airplay. Jazz Hands is quirky and almost playful, whilst Not Alone is a striking ballad. Due South,  Coffee and Roses and That’s How the Love gets in are exquisite; Mexico works its magic with repeated listens and Wondrous Thing is just that, a wonderful, jazz infused closing track.  There is no doubt that Thea’s music has grown, perhaps as a result of marriage and motherhood, perhaps as a result of maturity.  After all, she was only eighteen when her first CD was released.  That said, it blows my mind that she is only thirty, the same age as me, and I can’t wait to see where her music continues to grow to.  For now though, I shall be enjoying Murphy’s Heart, and suggest you all give yourselves a chance to do the same.  Then, until her time comes, as it invariably will, we can enjoy being in on the secret that is Thea Gilmore.

NB Thea Gilmore will be playing at The Sage, Gateshead, as part of her UK tour, on December 18th 2010.  Tickets from www.sagegateshead.org

Murphy's Heart - Thea Gilmore


Thea Gilmore – Murphy’s Heart
Tracks: 13
www.myspace.com/theagilmore

With a career spanning 13 years, 11 albums, 3 EPs and 9 singles of articulate, emotionally truthful music,  Oxford-born singer songwriter Thea Gilmore has always received critical acclaim but never achieved the commercial success most of us believe her to be well overdue.  Uncut magazine has described her as '"the best British singer-songwriter of the last 10 years...and then some"    That said, there have been times where she has turned down big label offers, in a bid to retain her artistic integrity and for that I say good on her.
The first thing to mention about Murphy’s Heart, is the cover art; the second, the crystal clear production; from Thea’s vocals to the brass and horns.  The third  is the excellent musicianship from the band, including Thea’s husband/ producer Nigel Stonier. That’s before we even get to Thea’s singing. There are often times when Thea brings to mind such greats as Joni Mitchell and Joan Baez, in both her lyrics and her delivery. God's Got Nothing On You showcases Thea’s stunning vocals and Love's the Greatest Instrument of Rage is faster paced folk, highlighting the well known political edge to Thea’s songs. Automatic Blue is a laidback drive through the American Midwest, whilst Teach me to be bad takes on an upbeat country sound. You're the Radio  is already proving to be a hit with radio, gaining much airplay. Jazz Hands is quirky and almost playful, whilst Not Alone is a striking ballad. Due South,  Coffee and Roses and That’s How the Love gets in are exquisite; Mexico works its magic with repeated listens and Wondrous Thing is just that, a wonderful, jazz infused closing track.  There is no doubt that Thea’s music has grown, perhaps as a result of marriage and motherhood, perhaps as a result of maturity.  After all, she was only eighteen when her first CD was released.  That said, it blows my mind that she is only thirty, the same age as me, and I can’t wait to see where her music continues to grow to.  For now though, I shall be enjoying Murphy’s Heart, and suggest you all give yourselves a chance to do the same.  Then, until her time comes, as it invariably will, we can enjoy being in on the secret that is Thea Gilmore.

NB Thea Gilmore will be playing at The Sage, Gateshead, as part of her UK tour, on December 18th 2010.  Tickets from www.sagegateshead.org