Here is ‘Edith Piaf’, the intimate new single from Melissa Ruth, who was raised in rural British Columbia, listening to and inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan. The sound is beautifully warm and layered, featuring smooth, melodic bass tones and atmospheric guitar. The song builds gently, in subtle steps, with the quiet introduction of percussion particularly effective. Above the fine instrumentation, Ruth’s vocal is weary and raw; her characterful voice is perfect for Americana storytelling. In the accompanying video, we see Ruth alone at home, lingering before mirrors and gazing through windows and into space. There’s a feeling of isolation that complements the the song’s lyrical and sonic journey well. This is absorbing stuff.
The single is taken from Ruth’s forthcoming album, ‘Bones’, due out on 24th March 2023. She says of her self-produced fourth full-length release: “This album is a collection of songs that surfaced as a result of slowing down and re-focusing, some are very old songs and some were urgent and written a few weeks before recording. They all feel necessary.” We can expect more reflective, well-crafted songs from the follow-up to 2019’s ‘Meteor’, once again blending Ruth’s country and blues influences into music she calls: “…North Country Western Country music with a Canadian Pacific Northwest feel.” Check it out.
