Reviews

Artist:Samantha Marais
Album:The Peppermint Conspiracy
Label:Butterfly Records
Tracks:12
Website:http://www.samanthamarais.com/

Samantha Marais is a South African born, London-based singer/songwriter and this delicately intimate offering co-written and produced by Simon Tong (Gorillaz/The Verve), Benji Vaughan (Prometheus/Younger Brother) and Nick Walker (Killing Joke), introduces us to Samantha as a new talent with obvious potential. The Peppermint Conspiracy, aside from having a highly intriguing title, juxtaposes Samantha's at times ethereal vocals with guitars, banjos, mandolins, harmoniums and melodicas with to produce striking folk music, which at times beckons comparisons to Joanna Newsom, Kate Bush, and perhaps most tellingly, Cara Dillon.

The standout track for me is track 11; Runaway, It's track which is made even more stunning but its simplicity with just vocals, guitars and bass-drums. Please Don't Take Everything is basically a eulogy for a relationship; as wistful as it is moving. Then there are tracks spanning a range which incorporates traditional folk, stories and unexpectedly even spoken word.

Overall Samantha Marais has delivered traditional folk record with a timeless feel, that is well worth a listen by any discerning music lover, especially fans of folk.

Helen Mitchell

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