Andi Neate
Album: Flying Full Circle
Label: Blue Elf
Tracks: 14
Website: http://www.andineate.co.uk/

Having spent an extended period down in the Falklands, Scottish singer/songwriter, Andi Neate, has returned home to record and release, "Flying Full Circle", her sixth to date, the fifth on Blue Elf, her own label.

Neate is embodiment of an independent artist not only in her approach to music, but also her approach to the business of music. Naturally it helps that she is a genuine free spirit with a creative streak a mile wide, easily more than capable of maintaining her prolific output, regardless of if she's working solo or with her band, "Flying Full Circle" happens to be full band album, but it's easy to imagine the songs stripped back to voice and guitar.

Whilst she has a travelling nature that would put a wandering albatross to shame(even the one in her song), Andi Neate, also knows the importance of having a place to centre herself, in her case a house she built herself. Both elements help explain why her songs are not just celebrations of journey's but also the importance of arriving.

Along the way there's places and people to explore, feelings to express. That free spirit nature fires an imagination that allows her to drift from the real world without sounding twee or seeming like she wants to strap a pair of fairy wings onto her back.

There are a number of themes that pervade through her work, flight, circuses and animals and "Flying Full Circle" contains elements of all three, though the circus bit is more of a sound than a song. It gives her songs a texture that feels almost uniquely hers, it's what makes her albums so listenable.

"Flying Full Circle" is an album that really invites you into the songs. They become so easy to visualise because Neate is good at documenting observations and feelings, as much a visual photo album as a songbook.

With the band behind her, it allows Andi Neate to open up the songs more, as well as her folk and singer-songwriter leanings, "Flying Full Circle" also takes on a more jazz feel as well as easy listening all of which allows her easily identifiable voice a chance to really express it's self.

I've been a big fan of Neate for quite some time now and can't really understand why she isn't more of a household name. She ticks all of the boxes as singer, performer, arranger and entertainer. "Flying Full Circle" is a well observed album that would make a great introduction to her work for the uninitiated and a welcome addition to the collections of those that already are.

Neil King