Laura Merrimen “This Time And From Now On” (Independent, 2018)

Laura Merrimen opens her third album in full on Lucinda Williams mode. A slow, smoky, southern gothic drawl which highlights some deft songwriting allied to some elegiac violin. Big on atmosphere, it lulls the listener into a false sense of intrigue. The following track is far more straightforward. ‘As the Crow Flies’ is a gallop, all country and folky splashes.

More and More’ is a lilting waltz and the tempo suits the voice and arrangements better. There is room for the lap steel to shine, the organ to breathe, harmonies to chime and a lonesome harmonica to wail. Lovely. Swiftly followed by another mid tempo narrative ‘Late July’ this one heading back to Williams’ territory. A road song filled with the joys, along with hardships, which builds to a snappy crescendo and chorus – one of the longest tracks on this short album clocking in at 5 minutes. The other is the closer ‘Leave A Light On’ which could be seen as a microcosm for the whole album – gentle guitars, woozy arrangements and a sense of melancholy wrapped up with a great chorus. 

Short but worth investigating, somewhat like this review. 

 

Canadian singer songwriter's strong third album
7/10
7/10

About Keith Hargreaves 357 Articles
Riding the one eyed horse into dead town the scales fell from his eyes. Music was the only true god at once profane and divine The dust blew through his mind as he considered the offering... And then he scored it out of ten and waited for the world to wake up
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