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Een wat “ouder” album van Anna Mieke (Bishop) uit Wicklow, Noord Ierland. Folk van de bovenste plank. Er is simpelweg niets dat er aan mankeert. Dijk van een debuutalbum. Twee weken geleden spotte ik haar tweede album. Ook al zo mooi.

Idle Mind is a superb album navigating effortlessly between contemporary shades of folk music (“Warped Window”, “Mountain Song”), spirited folk-rock (“Idle Mind”, “If”) and Americana blues-rock (“Arbour”). There are also adventurous forays into more modern classical and jazz-tinged territories on songs like Creature (visually enhanced by a contemporary dance choreography) or the stunning “Parallel”.

Accompanying herself on bouzouki and acoustic/electric guitar on most songs, Anna Mieke is also a pianist and a cellist, thus immediately broadening her sonic palette. Brían Mac Gloinn (one half of Irish folk duo Ye Vagabonds) is present on almost every songs as a backing vocalist or playing the guitar, fiddle or harmonium. Dublin-based jazz percussionist Matthew Jacobson or Wayne Dunlea (drums), Nick Rayner (synth), Conor Cunningham (flute & clarinet) and Sonny Sampson (bass) complete the line-up. There are hardly any solo or improvised sections as instruments are used in a solely harmonic capacity at all times to support Anna Mieke’s impeccable vocals.

None of the original songs on the album bear a “traditional” stamp though, but the singer dips into other styles to carve her own path. Her usage of the Greek bouzouki, borrowed from the Greek folk and Rebetiko traditions and adopted by Irish accompanying musicians since the mid-1960s also provides a fantastic grounding to her songs. In a recent interview, the singer quotes Nick Drake’s album “Pink Moon” as a major influence on her music too.

The 10 songs on Idle Mind seem to have emerged organically over several years as the distillation of life experiences gathered at home and abroad. Underpinned by strong vocals, superb arrangements and lyrics dealing with the elements, wilderness and wide open spaces, the free-flowing compositions have slowly matured into a remarkable début.

Tracks:
01 - Parallel
02 - Keep It Whole
03 - Warped Window
04 - Idle Mind
05 - Creature
06 - Aurillac
07 - Mountain Song
08 - Arbour
09 - If
10 - Epitaph

Staat er compleet op, 10% pars mee gepost. Met zeer veel dank aan de originele poster. Laat af en toe eens weten wat je van het album vindt. Altijd leuk, de mening van anderen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9K_SQedLPw