Reviewed by Mike Rimmer

I witnessed the launch party for this album in Birmingham and so my first taste of 'Permission' was to hear the songs played in a live setting. Live, Helen seems shy yet self-assured when she's singing. 'Permission' sees her finding her way as a singer, writing material from a Christian standpoint without having the pressure to always be trying to communicate a message. The result is a wonderful selection of songs which mix autobiography and fiction, and once I stopped trying to guess which were expressing Helen's life experiences, this became an intriguing, enjoyable album. But, then again, surely an angst-ridden post relationship song like "Stuff It" has to be poured out from a genuinely broken soul. She certainly sings it like she means it - an excellent performance Main working in an acoustic roots environment with real instruments - strings, accordion but few drums - "Lye-Di-Ly" is playful and light relief next to some of the passion expressed here. I love "Extremes" with its choppy rhythms matching the changing emotions expressed. In This context, "Helium" stands out for its ambience and alternative sounds - plenty of E Bow and vibe and drum loops. A certain highlight. Vocally, Helen manages to pull out all the slops, and isn't afraid to swing from vulnerable and lost to angry and indignant. A stunning performance! I even get the feeling that she enjoys messing with her audience by hiding herself in her words and leaving us guessing. If the current crop of female singer/songwriters are your bag, add Helen into your CD changer because you'll find she can look after herself!

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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