Anne Marie Almedal

This album brings so many memories out of hiding – the album title is well set – that it is almost difficult to listen to. Worth it though because Ms Almedal has a wonderful, pure and sweet, voice and phrasing to die for.

Absolutely in the sixties psych/folk milieu, her voice has all the innate beauty of a Mary Hopkins or a Sandy Denny and the breathless presentation of Kate Bush. The musicianship on the album is brilliant and the playing of Danny Thompson on bass is reminiscent of his best work with John Martyn – there is a remarkable version of John’s ‘May You Never’ here but his playing on tracks like ‘Scars’ is equally fine. The piano work all through from Kyetil Grande is subtle and beautiful – little diamonds of notes rather than big fills – but the focus is on Anne Marie’s voice and it is a wonderful device.

I thought I could happily go through life without every hearing David Gates execrable ‘If’ again but Almedal brings a Karen Carpenter quality to the song and turns it completely awau from the schlock it has turned into – this is ‘If ...’ with the dots attached and a sad wistfulness that is all the original was.
The self-penned songs are also rather fine - the title track is subtly wistful and the opener, 'Back Where It Started' is simply lovely.

The only criticism of the album is that there is no grit. It is all sweet and soft, satin and tissue rather than any hidden hardness but that is cavilling unfairly: it is a work of great charm and quiet beauty.