Karine Polwart - This Earthly Spell

(March 2008) 10 tracks: The Good Years * Sorry * Better Things * Rivers Run * Painted It White * Firethief * Behind Our Eyes * The News * Sorrowlessfield * Tongue That Cannot Lie.

Another album of original songs from the Scottish contemporary folk singer.

Karine Polwart's rise has been truly remarkable, but not surprising on the basis of her recordings. Her songwriting skills are matched by a poignant delivery style and superb voice.

The opening track, a vocal setting of a lyric by Scots poet Edwin Morgan, gives way to the steely, swampy Sorry, whilst the jazz-inflected whimsy of The News contrasts the anti-nuclear political bite of Better Things and the incisive Painted It White.

Three songs deal with motherhood - the poignant understatement of Firethief (which Karine wrote originally for the HIV/AIDS documentary The Enemy That Lives Within) unravels a mother’s loss, while the tender Rivers Run is written for her own son.

The atmospheric parable Tongue That Cannot Lie betrays Polwart’s background as a former philosophy teacher, and her ongoing fascination with moral ambivalence. Inspired by the supernatural legend surrounding thirteenth century Scottish Borders poet and prophet Thomas The Rhymer, it also distinguishes her as a captivating storyteller.

Karine Polwart (vocals, guitar, shruti box) wth Mattie Foulds (drums, percussion), Kevin McGuire (bass, vocals), Steven Polwart (guitar, banjo, vocals) and Inge Thomson (accordion, bass melodica, kalimba, loop station, vocals).

"Polwart really lives up to her reputation as a songwriter of true stature." (BBC Folk & Country)

"The disarming simplicity of Better Things... Makes it far more effective than a closely argued antiwar diatribe." (Sunday Times)

"soul cleansing" (Q)

"takes the heart to places few singers even know exist" (WORD)

"righteous and beautiful" (MOJO)

"grippingly understated storytelling" (The Times)

"beautifully formed tunes and observations that are not afraid of big questions and soft emotions" (Iirish Times)

"Polwart's skill is to make these deeply personal tales utterly universal" (Time Out)