With a minimalism and soul that simply takes your breath away, we are introduced to Ellie Ford.
Ford‘s debut album ‘The Other Sun‘, Produced by Harvey Summers is a set of 11 gorgeous and beautifully executed modern hymns that are equal measures euphoric and passionately tender. But what all these tracks share, is that they are absolutely hypnotic. Ford‘s vocals are a gorgeous mix of classic Billie Holiday, the modern touch of Jessie Ware and a little of experimentalism of CocoRosie.
Mixing solid organs and harps on the painfully beautiful ‘How Do You Know‘, modern beats with rhythmic folk guitars and haunting violins on the sensual ‘July‘, each track is like an old lament that has been found having been lost for a century. The baritone guitar, mixed with clarinet on ‘Don’t Tell Me Where You’re Going‘ under a duet male and female vocal was simply gorgeous. Between these great songs, is an instrumental; ‘Reprise‘, that is stunning. A tapestry of harp, strings, and clarinet that is delicate, bewitching and timeless, the latter a quality that Ford‘s work has that makes this album stand out so well.
The opening track ‘The Sweet Life‘ mixes keyboards together moodily before Ford‘s vocals call like a distant siren under what is a consistently outstanding set of songwriting arrangements. The previously featured “The Only One” is another delicate mini-masterpiece. When so many artists look for a quick hook or catchy gimmick, Ford stands out as a wonderful songwriter, with a voice that is as haunting as it is captivating.
Ellie Ford‘s highly anticipated debut album ‘The Other Sun’ is out now via Hidden Trail Records.
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