New England Folk and Roots Music Publication

New England Folk and Roots Music Publication

Album Reviews

First Listen: Samantha Farrell ‘September Sun’

Oddly enough, Samantha Farrell‘s September Sun hits me in May…I suppose, whats in a name anyway, right? The record as a whole encompasses a very Autumn kind of a feel to it. When things of Summer have begun to die away and the inevitable Winter lies ahead. Not to say the record is reflective of death or loss, but it certainly is reflective in many ways. It casts this shadowed veil of gray in a way that is introspective and curious it its own way. There are layers purposefully placed for you to unearth whats beneath. And there are no shortage of illusions to that Autumn theme either. ‘Like a Leaf’ is a prime example and one of my favorites of the bunch.

My gown is made of Queen Anne’s lace 
My hair is spun of golden grain 
It’s lonely here, but I’m at peace 
It’s time to fall like a leaf

Farrell’s voice…well its nothing short of phenomenal. It has an immaculate quiver to it that shakes you along with it as it waves across strummed guitars and string arrangements. Soft but incredibly impactful. Her hushed whisper may seem innocent and pure, but she spits fire in her honeyed-tone that is anything but. It really burrows into your core. There is a sense of jazziness in the control that she holds over her vocal, but it has something more. Its not fair to just say “she is jazzy”. You can feel the emotion sweep over you with each breath. One of the best female singer’s I have heard…ever. Her voice has got it all.

These are the kinds of songs that should be getting downloaded a  hundred thousand times because it became popular in movie and film. They have that certain atmosphere that can support the narrative of so many films and would fit like a glove into one of these soundtracks. Someone, hurry up and get on that. This gal’s music needs to be heard.

Brian Carroll

Brian Carroll is the founder of Red Line Roots. He is a Massachusetts native that got his start as a musician in the very community he now supports.