Folk
RIYL: Gillian Welch, The Heartless Bastards, Courtney Marie Andrews
There are plenty of vocalists who are capable of singing with power. There are also many who can sing with subtlety. Further, there really aren’t many that can do so in the same breath. Sure, Joni Mitchell can. Courtney Marie Andrews can too. Of course, Neko Case was honed that skill as her career has continued. Of course, the company that Charlotte Hewgill belongs with their debut release Stone House Recordings.
While not much is known about the band, what we do know is that they claim Toronto, Ontario. The EP is six songs of cathartic folk tunes that are likely to make a hell of a first impression. Hewgill sings with the knowing air of someone who has experienced a lot of life. There is also a quite optimism that exists in these songs, knowing that there’s so much more to see. These songs are great blend of determination, and the knowledge of existentialism, being one with nature, and our endless numbered days.
“I’ve come to grip that these words I speak aren’t mine, Hewgill sings on opener “Odin’s Will.” “But I’d love to share them as the wolf, he shares his songs at night.” Her murmur here flourishes into a bright yearning chorus, paired with a lightly strummed acoustic guitar. In fact, it seems that she favors the acoustic guitar, without the trappings of other instruments to get in the way.
There is a spareness to this record, that might have a lot to do with where the songs were captured. As listed on the band’s Bandcamp page, all songs were recorded in a stone house located somewhere in the Serra de Estrela mountain range in Portugal. While the record is definitely more folk than country, Hewgill and the band knows all the moves. “For The Family” shows that she is a human being, a citizen of the universe with ties to the pines. We also hear some great guitar and vocal pairings on “Barmlea” and the heartfelt closer “The Friendly Forest.”
There is a sense of sincere honesty all over this record. Definitely truly underground and under the radar, James Lake Fire is a band to watch. Seriously. Sit back, relax, and enjoy these tunes. There is hopefulness here. The band demonstrates finely honed skills throughout Stone House Recordings, resulting in an EP that is deeply moving.
