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Folk, en veel mooier wordt het niet mensen.

Astonishing, astounding, amazing. All of that. More.

Review At The Barrier:
https://atthebarrier.com/2025/01/24/mary-chapin-carpenter-julie-fowlis-karine-polwart-looking-for-the-thread-album-review/

Another:
This album gets off to a different start than most by Mary Chapin Carpenter, while along with her are two acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriters, Julie Fowlis & Karine Polwart who assert themselves excellently on the 10-track Looking For the Thread (Drops Jan. 24/Lambent Light/47:00). It’s music that’s compelling if not based strongly on traditional Scottish flavors.

The unified voices soothe from the opening. Other artists have been down this road: Van Morrison, Jackie Leven, Luka Bloom & June Tabor. It’s music that crossed the ocean over a hundred years ago & planted itself in Appalachia. It’s almost what could be considered folk music’s classical grandparents.

This LP melts into a recognizable chemistry on “A Heart That Never Closes.” It’s an instantly catchy ballad with a mix of vocal textures & a steady melodic shimmer. The instrumentation is consistently stellar as the mix of vocals balances the performances like a well-made cocktail. The delivery is confident with warm vocals. The lyrics unfold with quaint stories & are performed stylistically.

“Rebecca” is also simply a lovely song. The album introduces the combined talents of three marvelous artists & their rich songwriting penned with finesse & sensibility.

It seems no matter how far one gets away from old traditional folk songs & sings tunes of labor unrest & protest with a pinch of radicalism, folk artists will return to the basics. It becomes inspiring again because the heart & soul require it. “Looking For the Thread” is reminiscent of the harmonies & vocal tonalities of Canada’s The McGarrigle Sisters. Here, that achievement is triumphantly delivered.

While the songs are performed with a light touch, they are never lightweight. This trio of voices understands the importance of good words & touching melodies coupled with a poignant vocal. Mary Chapin Carpenter was looking for something new & different — she succeeded. The trio came together to write in Scotland & record in England. The diversity & varied melodicism is a communion of sound. “Hold Everything” cruises with beauty through a velvet-smooth vocal atmosphere akin to some of the best tunes by New Jersey’s The Roches (“Hammond Song”). New Jersey? Yes. Even Mary Chapin Carpenter’s from New Jersey.

There are no over-instrumentation or embellished arrangements. And songs like “Hold Everything” do rightly possess a little instrumental weirdness to add color. Nothing is bland or routine. I think this album is one of the year’s best.

Tracks:
01. Gràdh Geal Mo Chridhe (in Scottish Gaelic)
02. A Heart That Never Closes
03. Rebecca
04. Looking For The Thread
05. Hold Everything
06. Silver In The Blue
07. You Know Where You Are
08. Satellite
09. Buidheann Mo Chridhe Clann Ualrig (in Scottish Gaelic)
10. Send Love

Staat er compleet op, 10% pars mee gepost. Met zeer veel dank aan de originele poster. Laat af en toe eens weten wat je van het album vindt. Altijd leuk, de mening van anderen. Oh ja, MP3 doe ik niet aan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w62Mw1-lBiM