Sarah’s 2009 debut album ‘Across the Atlantic’ was an album that deservedly picked up some strong reviews in some of the most respected genre publications, but it’s this new album that is destined to bring her to a wider audience.
Her acoustic approach is beautifully realised with a balance in the sound that manages to give a soft, laidback and effortless feel, but with enough detail and colour to keep the listener engaged with the music. The approach to arrangement is also echoed in the lyrics and their delivery; on first listen it’s all too easy to be beguiled by the effortless vocals and hook laden melodies, but the more you listen the depth of the lyrics really come through. There are some beautiful stories here of friendship, growing up, love and more, but she has a totally disarming approach, and rather than these being closed and introspective, they are delivered in a way that brings the listener to the story…it’s a real skill and she’s perfected the craft.
All the songs are presented by her acoustic guitar and vocals, but there’s quite a range of instruments that make up the album, including bass, strings, percussion plus the unique sound of the weissenborn guitar and they give the whole soundscape an open, epic and almost widescreen feel at times.
There are many highlights including the opener ‘Sometimes You Lose, Sometimes you Win’ and the fantastic title track, but this is an album more about the sequencing and the flow rather than one-off songs.
‘The Greatest Ones Alive’ is a disarming album of real charm and many rewards – one of low-key albums of the year.
Track listing
1 Sometimes You Lose, Sometimes You Win
2 It's My Place! (And I Want It!)
3 The Greatest Ones Alive
4 Permafrost
5 Mmm
6 It's a Storm! (What's Going On?)
7 Song #43
8 Unwork
9 Cold Night
10 We're All Gonna Blow Away
review 07 October 2011
