Lucy Ward - Pretty Warnings

**1/2

The soft tones of her voice, send me to sleep...

Lucy Ward has won many a BBC Folk award, and I have heard many a good thing about her. She even sent me the record with a very nice note, something that really makes me want to review an album. So as I put it on, I really wanted to like it. But rather than reviewing it, I found myself asleep in my chair. Her vocals make you feel like your listening to a lullaby, and the tone of her music... does not have many lifts. 

So you have to be really paying attention to listen to it, and I was really trying to. 'Pretty Warnings' I think is a good name for an album, and the cover is really nice and the record is well packaged. These two things give me the impression that, I am going to be listening to something quite special. The storytelling of the track 'Bill Norrie' is a highlight, a track she sings with little music in the backing. This song shows of Irish traditional music in a good way, but I think she needs slightly more music in the background to up lift the song. 

I do think that Lucy has a nice voice, and if you like it... I think you will really like it, But too many of the tracks for me are too similar, the album needs more depth. Another highlight of the record is 'Mari Vach', where she shows off how she can harmonise her vocals. This track has more lifts and levels, and goes more places. Something I wish she had done on more tracks on the album, this song is quite beautiful.

As I get to the end of the album, I remember back to track number one 'Silver Morning' and the line "I can't escape this sinking feeling". Well this is how I feel about this album, for me it was an up hill struggle. If you like female drifty Folk singers, this might be for you. But for me, it just does not go anywhere and I would not listen to it again.

Review by Dan Devour

Check Out! the Video for 'Icarus' Below...