Church Bell Blues - Catherine MacLellan Album Review

Catherine MacLellan

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Album Review

Deeply personal. Emotionally moving. Beautifully simple. Church Bell Blues is the new Catherine MacLellan album, a masterful mix of country and folk.

Catherine is the daughter of the Canadian music writer legend Gene MacLellan who was at his greatest prominence in the 1970's penning "Snowbird", an international hit for Anne Murray and "Put Your Hand In The Hand" recorded by Elvis Presley and Joan Beaz among many others. The MacLellan family pen is still very much at work, but now in the hands of his daughter.

This is her second solo album, following on from her 2004 album, Dark Dream Midnight. Before going solo, earlier work was in the shape of the relatively unknown group, The New Drifts.

Church Bell Blues is a very heartfelt passionate combination of everyday circumstances, situations and heartbreak. It is superbly written and sung with such beauty. Catherine's voice and style is very reminiscent of the great Emmylou Harris.

For me, every track is a gem. Songs like "Too Easy", about the simple realisation of trying to live up to your expectations and the harsh reality that nothing is for free. The opener "Dreams Dissolve" reflects on the long hard years of trying to keep your head above water. And "Emily's Song" a bit more upbeat in style but never the less tackling the emotions and pain of moving on from a relationship.

The album is so personal and reflects the difficult and changing times in MacLellan's life at the time of writing. In fact she is quoted as saying " with this album I was just finding a way to communicate my sadness and feelings that I couldn't necessarily express directly to people". It certainly is an outpouring of emotion, its not over the top, its subtle and thought provoking, yet very easy to listen to.

In her native Canada, MacLellan has been singled out by her peers and has been receiving awards on a regular basis for her creative work. The time has now come for a wider audience.

Catherine will be showcasing tracks from "Church Bell Blues" as part of the "New Pioneers Tour". MacLellan will be joined by Ryan LeBlanc and Old Man Luedecke on the November and December UK leg.

With the likes of MacLellan and the young Laura Marling maybe the tide is changing and this female led style will become more accessible and enjoyed by many more. Its none offensive, soft country folk, sung with a silky voice.

Beautiful.

Mat Radbourne