Sunday, October 17, 2021

And now for something completely different, courtesy Natalie Jane Hill.

Photo by Julian Neel

I am not a "folk" kinda person in general. Unfortunately these days what most people (folks? HA!) call "folk" is really just anodyne singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar stuff, and that often bores me. But when I come across a true folk album, it makes my ears perk up!

Natalie Jane Hill's new album Solely is folk music done right.

Solely has an otherworldly patina, and sounds like it was plucked from a sunny meadow covered in hazy early '70s shade. And Hill's voice is just so emotive and raw and full while somehow staying smooth in delivery, even at its most emotionally fragile. And the musical accompaniment is super minimal yet somehow fills all the surrounding space, enveloping you in the allure of Hill's artistic vision. It's simple and uncomplicated, but incredibly effective. 

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