 Avebury (Park Records PRKCD67) |
Abbie Lathe has recently found success as part of Maddy Prior & The Girls and in the wake releases her debut album for Park Records. And what a fine recording it proves. Starting with ‘Avebury Song’ from the introduction you would think this a chapter from the Suzanne Vega songbook but no, it’s penned by our hero and joined by Jane Griffiths (Violin) and Martin Brunsden (Mandolin) the lightness of being that these instruments provide lend well to the lyrical content of the song – a little bit mystical if you get my drift? I suppose quirky, maybe even hippy-ish is how some might perceive the arrangement but at least it grabs your attention from the offset. The first track is such a contrast to ‘Searching For Lambs’ that you won’t be prepared for the starkness of the unaccompanied vocals or oh, so subtle muted harmonies. And that my friend is where the crux of the album lies. In not knowing what the lady is going to do next each track is like a voyage of discovery. The quintessential English-ness is what makes the recording stand out and she even covers (rather well as it goes) ‘Nothing Rhymed’. Yes, the hoary old Gilbert O’Sullivan chestnut! There has been a lot of time and attention to detail spent on the finished result and Tony Poole’s production shows. He along with Abbie are names to look out for. Having said all this, the album won’t be everybody’s cup of tea but give it a spin and see if it grabs you the way it did me - at least it’s refreshing. |