Madison Violet
Album: Come As You Are Live
Label: True North
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.madisonviolet.com

Madison Violet is a folk duo from Canada. They exist of the two songwriters Brenley MacEachern und Lisa MacIsaac. After four studio albums "Come as you are" is their first live album. It has been released in October 2012.

The two ladies sing wonderful harmonies, sometimes accompanied by their double bass player's backing vocals. Their guitar playing is decent, the violin playing average and the bass player plays confidently and reliably. Their voices sound charming, fresh and singular and have a lot of different shades to offer. The album is well produced, the sound is natural and transparent which is how a live album should be.

Their darker songs like "Prayed", "Crying", "Baby in the Black and White" and "The Woodshop" about the loss of loved ones, lost love or given uo hopes come across very well. They are expressive and make you want to listen to them closely and repeatedly.

Other Songs like the title track "Come as you are", "I'm your lady" or "Cindy Cindy", although catchy, are not quite as touching.

Madison Violet are at their best when they are trying to communicate rather sad thoughts in cheerful melodies like in "If I could love you". It's my favourite song of the album. There is a nice tension between the serious and very realistic lyrics and the inventive and lively melody. This is a contrast that you don't seem to find in their songs too often. If you find it, like in this song, it's convincing and intriguing.

Dagmar Brudnitzki