Other Reviews

08/02/2010

Silent June

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Belinda O’Hooley & Heidi Tidow

It wouldn’t be a gross exaggeration to deem Silent June a highly anticipated release, which, of course, is a coup for any new artist on the scene. Highly anticipated, because the listener simply could not know what to expect: there’s Belinda O’Hooley, once the ivory-anchor of Rachel Unthank and the Winterset, comedienne of the live show, folk and classical piano connoisseur; Heidi Tidow, a singer songwriter, plus a peppering of appearances from some of the folk scene’s young darlings in the form of Jackie Oates, Cormac Byrne and Anna Esslemont.

And from song to song, it’s still impossible to predict what’s coming next, as these self-confessed ‘dapper-suited gentlewomen’ refuse to slip neatly into a pigeonhole – though lovers of lyric-led lullabies are certainly in for a treat.

The second track’s ‘Cornmeal and wine’ refrain will fail to leave the listener for days on end, insisting bullishly that it is a traditional song until the inlay is consulted and it is realised that it is the work of O’Hooley.

In complete contrast, there is the ethereal ‘Too Old To Dream’, a pastiche of ‘When I Grow Too Old To Dream’, where the piano is given the freedom to sigh, insinuate, colour and pinpoint.

There are occasions where some of the sincerity drifts into sentimentality – ‘Shelter Me’ wouldn’t sound out of place in a school concert – but overall, this is a fine debut to showcase excellent original songwriting.

www.myspace.com/belindaohooleymusic

Sophie Parkes