Sally Ironmonger
Album: The Company I Keep
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.sallyironmonger.co.uk

Medway based singer/songwriter Sally Ironmonger is joined by guitar playing, musical directing, co-writing husband Brian Carter, and a plethora of other fine musicians on her third studio album 'The Company I keep', in a bid to create a fuller sound for this fine offering!

The album consists of 12 tracks, 9 of which are self penned and the remaining very decent interpretations of others contemporary work, including a very pleasing version of Supertramp's 'The Logical song'. The songs seem to fall into three categories: social commentary, storytelling, and wry observations of this crazy world we live in....there's definitely an element of rebellion hiding within Sally, may be more than she lets on here!!!!

The overall feel of the album is very uplifting, choruses a plenty to tempt the listener to engage....and this is something that Sally achieves on virtually all of the contributions here; you just have to join in and can't help nodding in concordance to many of the witticisms and reflections in these songs! Think a lazy sunny, Sunday afternoon, think a cold cider in hand whilst perched in reclining chair while taking in the festival life and you're there with Sally....now bottle it, and you have this album!

Highlights for this listener come in the form of the two story telling style songs, 'Metal Work' ( which tells the story of a man's devotion to his work, despite the products of his trade), there's something very Billy Bragg in the writing and delivery of this one....no bad thing!, and 'Bagpipe Man' (a 'sordid tale' of an ex soldier, oh too fond of his ale!) which takes a more traditional, maybe even slightly Celtic direction......with these two songs Sally's vocals may well be at their most honest....raw and direct!

Well written, well presented, and produced to a very high standard 'The Company I Keep' is well worth a listen or even better several listens! Good, wholesome,contemporary acousti-folk!

A.J. Tranter