Reviews
Artist:Olivia Ross Album: Grace The Blue
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: https://oliviaross.bandcamp.com/
With a voice that has a little of jazz's huskiness, The Shee's Olivia Ross has put together an album of intimate Folk Country songs. Fans of The Shee will find some of the same blend of music, with Olivia backed by a band than includes three fellow band members and the versatile Rachel Newton producing.
"Little Steps" presents upbeat words of advice with fine accompaniment from Olivia's fiddle and Rory Matheson's piano. Olivia's voice and Rory's sensitive playing bring out emotion and gravitas in "Morning Star". "Far From This World" is a tender duet with Rachel Newton's second voice. The pairing of the two singers against Rory's jazzy piano, Anna Massie's guitar and James Lindsay's double bass is a delight.
Similarly wonderful is Olivia's version of Chris Wood and Hugh Lupton's "Bleary Winter". The arrangement is one of sophisticated restraint with Signey Jakobsdottir's percussion, piano and double bass flowing around Ross' wonderful vocal. Calum Stewart's whistles and wooden flute add Celtic folky mystery to the affirming "River", a fine own composition. Olivia's nimble fiddle flies in a close duet with Stewart's Whistle on the "Beccy's Big Day " instrumental set. There is restraint and real grace in the band's playing as the rest of the players join in.
Highlight song of the album is "Little Sparrow", the vocal and bass and piano accompaniment blend folk and sophisticated jazz perfectly with some BLUE period Joni Mitchell nuances. Close second is the classic sounding "Hallelujah" a song of literal faith. Similarly restrained but powerful is the fiddle piano duet on "Lost Inverlael", reflecting on the 200th anniversary brings an incredible depth to Olivia's fiddle and Stewart's Whistle playing. In the late 80s I had a near religious moment when I first heard Donal Lunny's "Declan" from his sublime self titled instrumental album. The synergy between bass, whistle, piano and fiddle induced a similar. Iain Sinclair's traditional sounding
"The King Shilling" is given a rousing emotional treatment by Ross and her band. Olivia, Anna and Ross are in full traditional folk mode on "Jock O'Hazeldean", a song I first heard performed by Dick Gaughan. Ross finds a tenderness in the emotional song. "Summer's Promise" is classic singer songwriter material, with Olivia coming across like a Scottish Carole King.
Marc Higgins
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