Pulling Threads

Description

Stunning debut album from Irish singer Michelle Burke (lead singer with Irish/American supergroup Cherish The Ladies). With her radiantly fresh, potently honeyed voice Michelle ranks among today's most exciting contemporary folk prospects. Irish singer Michelle Burke is fast making her name both lead vocalist with Irish/American supergroup Cherish the Ladies, and as a solo singer of rare interpretative gifts. Pulling Threads is a stunningly assured collection of classic ballads and lesser-known gems produced by Aidan O'Rourke (Lau). Full of atmospheric, subtly sophisticated arrangements involving a stellar array of guests, including James Ross, Kris Drever, Karine Polwart and Martin Green, it vibrantly highlights the rich stylistic and expressive breadth of Burke's singing. Apart from Burke's haunting version of the traditional ballad 'Molly Bawn', Pulling Threads focuses on the work of contemporary songwriters, with such diverse choices as Bob Dylan, Andy M. Stewart and Tom Waits highlighting the range of Burke's tastes and artistry. She dips into Americana territory, draws on her love of Jazz alongside two tracks by cult Edinburgh songwriter Sandy Wright, and closes with an artlessly new-minted rendition of 'I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen'. Arrangements vary in style from classical-style lyricism to edgy nu-folk, torch-song intensity to polished acoustic pop, united by Burke's timelessly expressive, exquisitely nuanced voice. "There are loads of different strands on the album – that's what the title's about," she says. "With it being my first album, I wanted to try and pull together as many of my influences and ideas as I could, and the types of songs I love singing, because they're all different facets of me – of who I am as a singer." Burke's many-sided musical identity might resist easy categorisation, but it certainly makes for magical listening. Tracks; 01:MOLLY BAWN / 02: HEY MAMA / 03: I SHALL BE RELEASED / 04: SPRINGHILL / MINE / 05: WHERE ARE YOU TONIGHT I WONDER / 06: I WOULD BE STRONGER THAN THAT / 07: BROKEN BICYCLES / 08: THE BALLAD OF THE SAD YOUNG MEN / 09: TEARS OF THE SUN / 10: I'LL TAKE YOU HOME AGAIN KATHLEEN