West My Friend
Album: When The Ink Dries
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 12
Website: http://www.westmyfriend.com

West My Friend is a new name to me and I was instantly charmed by the intriguing CD title. It turns out they hail from Canada; Vancouver British Columbia, to be exact. Comprising three male vocalists and one female one, they alternate lead and rather exquisite harmonies.

I was further charmed by the curious assortment of subject matter contained within the twelve tracks. Cat Lady Song, Baleen Whale, The Tattoo That Loved Her Anyway are all fantastic songs, and being an English graduate who studied her poetry, it was perhaps a given that I'd immediately love Ode to Sylvia Plath. Fascinating. Unusually, they are classed as folk/chamber pop, which isn't a typical categorisation. However, whatever the category, they create an unusual and very distinctive sound.

Definitely worth checking out if you like something just a little different and quirky, unusual subject matter; it would make an enjoyable and discussion prompting addition to your collection.

Helen Mitchell