Núria Graham’s fifth album finds her confidently embracing a magical mood without being afraid to leave meanings cloudy and ambiguous.
This Irish / Catalan singer from Vic in central Spain deals with fantasies, fables and ”the intimate embrace of home.
A kinship with nature is a recurring theme and the record is named after a genus of flowers native to the Mediterranean Basin.
The album was recorded over several months, hopping between Graham’s dining room in L’Empordà and the studio with the help of sound engineer Jordi Mora and arranger Helena Cànoves.
The songs, all sung in English, are built around piano and classical guitar but feature subtly effective orchestral arrangements on many tracks. The thirteen tracks are relatively short are squeezed into just 35 minutes.
|
The quirky chorus of Yes It's Me, The Goldfish! displays a playfulness while Disaster In Napoli briefly evokes the spirit of PJ Harvey. However, aside from the latter tune, there’s little to suggest that the rawness of the blues is among Graham’s influences. Intimate indie pop with a subtle hint of jazziness is more the order of the day. A mystical sounding title like Fire Mountain Of Sacred Ancient Fountain gives a clue to the ethereal inspirations.
Although Graham is still only in her mid-twenties this album showcases the maturity of a singer who has found her voice.
Núria Graham’s website
|
