STRANGERS

Since the release of her debut album, 'An Abandoned Orchid House', Talitha Rise has shortened her name to RISE, but I am more than glad to say that musically she has carried out in a very similar vein. In my review of the debut I said "the arrangements are such so that there is enough going on to pique the listener and want them to spend time unravelling it all, but always at the top of the mix is that wonderful voice, intimate and personal, as if Talitha and the listener are the only people in the world. This is quite some album." To be honest, I could have lifted those and applied it to this one as well, except in many ways this is even more special. I listened to it on headphones again while going on a walk yesterday through the empty streets as well abide with lockdown. I came across just a few people doing the same as me, and we all nodded and smiled at each other, making sure we were always at least 2 metres apart, and the soundtrack playing in my head was perfect accompaniment as I felt I was all alone in the world with just that voice for company.

RISE said: "David Gray once wrote a line that has stuck with me - "and when we meet again, we will be strangers". That, in a nutshell, is the idea behind this album. This album traverses the challenge of the personal 'abyss' and the emergence from the bleakness of loss and separation. This gives way to hope, wisdom and the taking of responsibility." The album wasn't recorded in a studio, as RISE worked distantly with her live band and guests such as Peter Yates (The Fields of The Nephilim) and then worked on each track in the seclusion of the west coast of Ireland. In some ways it is reminiscent of Talis Kimberley, or Enya, or Kate Bush, or Suzanne Vega, or none of the above or all of them. This is an album of atmosphere, of being, of being surrounded by a magical mist where everything works together to create a shimmering backdrop for that voice, for that pure voice.

When I listen to this album, I am taken to a magical place, up on the moors, in the wilds, where there is just me and the landscape, at one with nature. Some songs are basically just RISE, while others have additional musicians, all coming together mixed and melded so the voice is always at the forefront, "Radio Silence" reminds me somewhat of Alabama 3 with a more countrified approach, but their emotion was far more cracked and less poignant, less welcoming. There is percussion on some songs, not on others, guitar the same, while piano is also important, but this is all about the vocals. This is music which takes the listener away from reality, where the only limits are our own imagination as we are taken into magical realms.

Yet another truly incredible work.

Jo Beth Young, the multi-instrumentalist, singer songwriter, presents her second album, Strangers. With a musical style in the gap between Kate Bush and Stevie Nicks, she very much commands her own style and sound. Her 2023 tour of UK and Ireland kicks off in Cardiff on 13th October, at the Norwegian Church Arts Centre. Finishing in Ireland in November, do catch one of the shows if you can, all at wonderful venues giving splendid atmosphere. These are still tough times for artists and they need our support! The shows promise to bring an original format, with storytelling and a joint venture with fellow folk artist Serious Child. Tickets are available via jobethyoung.com for around £17. I was paying that amount for concert tickets back in the seventies!

So to this, her second album. The collaboration with Martyn Barker for her first album has ended, hence the reduction of the group name to just Rise, as if Martyn was the Talitha in the previous group. For me, Strangers has the same quality of sound and songwriting as An Abandoned Orchid House, with a shift in emphasis towards piano and strings, to which is added once again the delight of Jo Beth's unique vocals. The beauty and musical intelligence from the first album continues, as the main artist here in Rise delivers her music her way.

I rate this album as highly for enjoyment as I do Jo Beth's first, yet in the PA ratings system, I feel obliged to notch it down a peg to 4 stars. I think there are other rather different yet equally good piano and strings albums out there, delivering beautiful progressive melodies and songs, so rather than claim this album to be essential, I will rate it as an excellent addition to any progressive collection. Its unique style and sound are a definite progression from An Abandoned Orchid House. The emotive performances are stepped up, especially in the title track, my personal favourite of any of Jo Beth's songs so far.

There is a good variety of moods explored throughout the 9 tracks on Strangers. The keyboard-strings-vocals triad shifts through dark clouds, radio silence and skysailing on its way to the finale of The Old Sewing-woman's Song. This is the longest and most progressive track recorded by Jo Beth and one of her own personal favourites. It is a beautiful closer to a beautiful album. If you like Kate Bush or any of the songs sung by McVie or Nicks on Fleetwood Mac's Rumours, I recommend this album to you. (rating: 4 out of 5)