Aoife
Scott’s album Carry the Day is an irresistible debut by an Irish artist with
pedigree. From the very first notes on every track, listeners are lured into a
deeply delightful musical experience. Scott’s voice is crystalline, soulful and
spirited. She has premium musical genes. Frances Black is her mother; Mary is
her aunt; Rosin O and Danny O’Reilly are first cousins; Shay, Michael and
Martin Black are her uncles. Her growing years, the title of one of the best
songs on this recording, were clearly a rich apprenticeship in the song
tradition and the business of making music.
And,
as if the singing was not impressive enough, many of the crafty and stirring songs
are her own compositions, co-written with Enda Reilly. The combination of
voice, words and melodies makes for an artful album mix with seductive
arrangements and an inviting sequence of songs.
Her
equally talented brother Eoghan features on the album. He wrote Deep, Dark
Water, a lively reminiscence of childhood visits to California with the chorus
line “James Taylor on the radio, Singing all about Mexico.” Years ago, in an
interview, Mary Black told me one of her regrets was never having the
opportunity to record or sing with James Taylor.
We
Know Where We Stand is a musical millennial manifesto. Gypsy Warrior is a
tribute to a friend, a solid piece with a marching tempo. Two of her songs are in Irish. Fasaim is a macaronic
song about a growing up moment, inspired by her brother’s marriage. Slan Leat
is a well-wishing song, a useful encore item for concerts.
On
the Don Mescall song, The Growing Years, she sounds most like her mother –who
also sings some of Mescall’s song. With a sweetly understated piano
accompaniment by Michael Gallen, Scott moves confidently into Joni Mitchell
territory. The Hills of South Armagh was written by Briege Murphy and will be
familiar to all Bay Area fans of the Black Brothers –founts of song lore in
their own right-- who feature it regularly in their shows. Scott lays down a
benchmark version.
What
You Do With What You’ve Got, from the great activist singer/songwriter Si Kahn,
is also associated with Dick Gaughan but Scott lays a strong claim to it. The
Wallflower Waltz by Sharyn Dimmick is a song she got from her uncles. It’s a fine
rendition paired with a lovely, time-lagged outro of O’Carolan’s Sí Bheag,
Sí Mór.
Scott
worked on this album for few years, searching for the sound palette that she
could commit to. I would consider it a great success, making all the right musical
moves, especially the correct decision to include her own songs. The album
shows that quality is not generationally limited, and that the folk traditions
are in safe, younger hands. The career of another member of the hugely talented
Black family is off and running.
0 Comments