Reviewed by Martin I Smith

Those who have previously heard her work with festival favourites Bodixa will know that Anna Elias sure can sing. She has just the sort of dreamy, soothing-yet-haunting vocals you'd long for in setting up a folksy, singer-songwriter ensemble. Other acts, satisfied with finding the vocal talent, would be content to conjure a few chords on the ol' acoustic and be done with it. But this duo haven't settled - they've woven Anna's capabilities into a musical tapestry that accentuates her talent and brings something fresh to an often tired formula. Citing their captivation with the midlands folk scene as inspiration, the skilled singer and her husband, Harvey, grab accordions and strings to accomplish their quirky sound, playing with melancholy before exploring lighter territory. Little musical segues are dotted about between tracks to take Anna away from the action and build on the darker atmospherics at play through the record. It's such oddities that make the album special; the choral vocals on "Evensong", the glitchy noises through "Into The Night" - all serve to push the songs beyond the merely pleasant into the masterful. A mature and original debut, well worth seeking by anyone after folk with a difference.

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.

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