Daughter Of The Water Progressive Voyages Review PV027
Daughter Of The Water Progressive Voyages Review PV027
This is a strange one, a six-song mini album from duo of Sarah Lambert-gates and bones Huse released through Bandcamp under the name Daughter Of The Water and entitled
Cast Through The Mistletoe tree, it is really more of an EP despite having six track it only has a running time of 27 minutes,
This is a very gentle affair, performed mainly acoustically with Guitars and Banjo with occasional Synthesiser touches, no drums apart from any percussive taps etc.
It is all very organic, as it was recorded on a house boat on the Thames in Hardwicke Oxfordshire, this adds to its charms its very low key really makes you listen to the songs carefully, in the background you can hear the sounds around, flowing water, church bells and birds etc., the Ep begins with Ghost Bird, which begins with gentle baritone guitar plucking, as Sarah’s pure voice starts to sing mostly wordless vocals initially, but thereafter sweetly with double tracked vocals, the song has some very good guitar playing that adds to the ethereal tone of the song, I do like this track it is very different from normal music that I listen to,
Next track Dusty Horse is another strong song, with similarly fine instrumentation, The lyrics are very evocative of a defined time and place, you can tell this was recorded in a quiet location with no traffic nearby, as it is very calming and peaceful again they are very evocative of such a quiet place, possibly a backwater spur of similar, again this song grows on you as you listen to it, it has a touch of magic to it.
Melancholy Midnight is next this is a great track with a definite aura of melancholy apparent, it also has the best chorus of the EP in its refrains of Melancholy Midnight and its Breathing in out, in out that is repeated several times to good effect.
effective Flow is next this is a very short track, Which despite being a shorter track there is no lack of emotion on display here, a graceful vocal makes a strong impression.
Cuckoo is next and this has more field recordings of birds cheeping, and other natural sounds, It is very effective, very delicate and gentle, very fine song but very tender and beautiful.
Rain bells concludes the EP and this has gentler guitar and banjo swells, another ethereal vocal, as the song speaks of swimming in the lake whilst the church bells are ringing, this suggests a closeness and intimacy in the song, Again I like this song and the swim in the lake line
And that’s it six songs 27 minutes of calm well recorded intriguing music that I feel would appeal to folk who like acts like Candacraig, League Of Lights or Kindred Spirit Band and also Passengers of Big Big Train as there is much delicacy and beauty with these songs and an evocation of a simple life lived in natural surroundings unworried by the cares of the world and driven by the seasons and the ever present Ebb and Flow of the waters
This is a very good EP and it has definitely charmed me with its gentle tones and stellar performances.
It’s on Bandcamp so why not have a listen for yourself you might be surprised by what you hear. I know I was enthralled by its subtle graces and beauty of this most charming EP.
Info here; www.daughterofthewater.bandcamp.com
AUTHOR John Wenlock Smith