2012 – Self Released
3***
Review written by Paul Hinkley Smith
This album kicks off with some beautifully bright mandolin which made me figuratively if not literally prick up my ears from the outset. If you like your music at the slightly folkier end of the spectrum then this is certainly worth a listen. In the best traditions of folk music from this side of The Atlantic or the other this is a wonderfully crafted collection of stories with a distinct and slightly quirky narrative voice. Mixed by Tim Mathew, who has worked with the likes of James Yorkston, King Creosote and Eliza Carthy, this gives you an idea of the pedigree. The sound is rich but clean, at times simple but never sparse. This is a sound that wouldn’t seem out of place on the Transatlantic Sessions. There is space to emphasise the skilfully woven together close harmonies which are a highlight of just about every track. Some like I Lay Here With You andJosie have a capella moments which are magical and remarkable. It’s hard to describe but at times there is perhaps a hint of The Be Good Tanyas in both the vocals and the instrumentation, arrangement and the way the vocals
complement each other so perfectly although that doesn’t quite hit the mark.
I have really enjoyed listening to this album and did so from the first listen. It’s catchy, competent and warm. Drawing information from her bio, King has been making music for a while and it shows. Previously in the band Shake The Shack with whom she released three albums, her first solo release was in 1999. Accordingly she released two more before she put the Reckless Angels together in 2010. This hardly makes her output prolific and I wonder why. The Reckless Angels are fiddler Amy Geddes of renowned Scottish folk group Tannas and Vera van Heeringen formerly of the New Rope String Band. The trio are definitely a winning combination so more of the same please.
The best quote I’ve found so far is that Sharon was once referred to as “a national treasure” by former Scottish Tourism Minister, Jim Mather which kind of puts her in a bracket of reasons to visit
Scotland I suppose. There was a tour of Scotland undertaken by the band to launch this album. Those of us a long way further south may have to wait a while to catch this act live. On the strength of this release I would turn up to take a listen.
http://www.sharonkingmusic.co.uk
3***
Review written by Paul Hinkley Smith
This album kicks off with some beautifully bright mandolin which made me figuratively if not literally prick up my ears from the outset. If you like your music at the slightly folkier end of the spectrum then this is certainly worth a listen. In the best traditions of folk music from this side of The Atlantic or the other this is a wonderfully crafted collection of stories with a distinct and slightly quirky narrative voice. Mixed by Tim Mathew, who has worked with the likes of James Yorkston, King Creosote and Eliza Carthy, this gives you an idea of the pedigree. The sound is rich but clean, at times simple but never sparse. This is a sound that wouldn’t seem out of place on the Transatlantic Sessions. There is space to emphasise the skilfully woven together close harmonies which are a highlight of just about every track. Some like I Lay Here With You andJosie have a capella moments which are magical and remarkable. It’s hard to describe but at times there is perhaps a hint of The Be Good Tanyas in both the vocals and the instrumentation, arrangement and the way the vocals
complement each other so perfectly although that doesn’t quite hit the mark.
I have really enjoyed listening to this album and did so from the first listen. It’s catchy, competent and warm. Drawing information from her bio, King has been making music for a while and it shows. Previously in the band Shake The Shack with whom she released three albums, her first solo release was in 1999. Accordingly she released two more before she put the Reckless Angels together in 2010. This hardly makes her output prolific and I wonder why. The Reckless Angels are fiddler Amy Geddes of renowned Scottish folk group Tannas and Vera van Heeringen formerly of the New Rope String Band. The trio are definitely a winning combination so more of the same please.
The best quote I’ve found so far is that Sharon was once referred to as “a national treasure” by former Scottish Tourism Minister, Jim Mather which kind of puts her in a bracket of reasons to visit
Scotland I suppose. There was a tour of Scotland undertaken by the band to launch this album. Those of us a long way further south may have to wait a while to catch this act live. On the strength of this release I would turn up to take a listen.
http://www.sharonkingmusic.co.uk