Andy Rogers With Joanne Hogg - The Cave Sessions Vol 1
STYLE: Roots/Acoustic RATING OUR PRODUCT CODE: 173411-27422 LABEL: Independent FORMAT: Digital Only EP
Reviewed by Lins Honeyman
This six-track EP from Northern Ireland-based singer/songwriter Andy Rogers has something of a unique selling point in that he and his band recorded it in a cave located at Ballintoy Harbour near the top of the singer's home province. This unusual setting reflects the fact that Rogers is following in the footsteps of the psalmist David who, when fleeing from his powerful father-in-law around 1000BC, hid in a cave and wrote songs about his experiences which in turn became enshrined in Scripture as the 57th psalm. Proceedings get off to a suitably atmospheric start with a short overture which features the intertwined sound from strings players Colin and Gwyneth Reid's instruments reverberating off the cave walls before "Adullam - How We Got Here In The First Place. . ." sets the scene in fine Celtic fashion. A trio of songs with the cave-related umbrella title of "Nickajack" then go on to expand on the words of this miktam psalm with part three (subtitled "Whisper Like A Breeze!") finding Iona singer Joanne Hogg stepping out from her harmony vocalist alcove to turn in a characteristically emotive performance. The closing track "Ballintoy - Sound Of The Northern Sun" ends matters on a hopeful note and rounds off this intriguing and refreshingly different release.
The opinions expressed in this article are
not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed
views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may
not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a
later date.
Interested in reviewing music? Find out
more here.