Rachel Sermanni - Under Mountains [2012] [FLAC] torrent

Artist: Release: Under Mountains
MusicBrainz: abad1013-93c3-4824-967e-9f180c6d3b96
Released: 2012-09-12
Label: Middle of Nowhere Recordings
Catalog#: SERMANNICD05
Country: GB
Packaging: Jewel Case

Tracklisting:

01. Breathe Easy (04:01)
02. Bones (03:20)
03. Waltz (04:04)
04. Ever Since the Chocolate (03:12)
05. The Fog (04:28)
06. Little Prayer (01:08)
07. Sea Oh See (03:20)
08. Sleep (03:17)
09. Marshmallow Unicorn (04:53)
10. Black Current (03:31)
11. Eggshells (04:00)
12. To a Fox (05:10)

Ms Sermanni has been wooing fans on the Scottish folk circuit for some time now – Under Mountains is possibly a bolder record than one might have expected given her predominantly folk roots. There is the almost brassy pop chorus of 'The Fog', the Beatles-y harmonies on 'Sea oh See' and a strong jazz undercurrent on some of these tracks, evidence that Sermanni is not ready to be pigeon-holed so early in her career. On standout track, the impossibly beautiful 'Marshmallow Unicorn' Sermanni employs her unique voice to devastating effect backed by a gorgeous folk guitar motif. When she sings '..and I know that I will find her by the tremors left behind her for with each ripple on the water she prays...'you know you are you are in the presence of a writer with a talent to match her vocal prowess. She is at her very best when she reins in the vocals – possessing an impressive range, she cuts loose on one or two occasions and it is not nearly as effective as when she keeps it low key and restrained.

The album finishes with the aching 'To a Fox', a fittingly beguiling end to an impressively assured debut. It will be interesting to see where Rachel Sermanni goes from here - it is not too difficult to see her appeal to an older, more sophisticated market, the terrain of Norah Jones, Diana Krall, Sarah McLachlan et al.

Alternatively, bands like Of Monsters and Men and Mumford and Son are currently enjoying huge success with their attempts to bring folk into the pop mainstream – Sermanni could easily follow the path paved by acts like these.

For now, there is enough on here to herald the arrival of a bright new talent – Under Mountains is a bewitching debut that warrants close attention.

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