Fossils is an excellent album, a must-listen blend of bluegrass, jazz, folk and back-porch Americana.
Aofie O'Donovan - Fossils
Confidently, Aoife opens her solo album with her distinctive rendition of Alison Krauss’ Lay My Burden Down, Krauss is a hard act to follow but I think she made the song her own.
Briar Rose is a haunting folk track which is based on an Anne Sexton poem which Sleeping Beauty is depicted as the victim of sexual abuse by her father.
Even though the content of the lyrics are somewhat dark the song is surprisingly soothing, with fingerpicking guitars and male harmonies to even out the sound.
Thursday’s Child is a wonderful anthem, an assortment of folk guitars, horns and keys. Thursday’s Child is definitely one of my favourites off the album.
Aofie’s vocals are heavenly throughout but they really shine on this particular track. Wistful and enchanting, Red & White & Blue & Gold is the gem of this collection.
Beekeeper stands alone with its jazz opening of guitars that gets swallowed by an instrumentation of piano, drums and strings. The pace rises with the up-tempo track Fire Engine, bluegrass rhythms and intricate melodies balanced by warm vocals, it’s an excellent track.
Pearls is slightly more country than any other song on the album, a pleasant melody with story-like lyrics. Glowing Heart is austere, with lyrics such as ‘Would the ripples in the water taste like wine/ The night is young/ the air is heavy drink up now/ my love for you goes on/ in the thickening of dusk I sing this song.’
I’m Alone has a beautiful opening guitar melody which blends with Aoife’s chilling vocals. Oh, Mama is the album closer, soothing soft melodies with enthralling vocals.
Fossils is an excellent album, a must-listen blend of bluegrass, jazz, folk and back-porch Americana.
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