Cover Girls, Vol. 12

Former Throwing Muses frontwoman Kristin Hersh recorded Cat Stevens’ “Trouble” for her fourth official solo album, Sunny Border Blue in 2001. The result was a song complimentary of the original, but with Hersh’s unmistakable voice and musical trademark.

The track was later released on the soundtrack for the popular show Everwood.


While I’m not a big fan of shows like Rock Star: INXS, I did happen upon Jordis Unga’s performance of ‘The Man Who Sold The World,’ a song written and performed by the legendary David Bowie. Unga’s rendition was incredibly striking, however. Emotional and engaging, it was remarkable to me that such power and intensity could come through a performance that lasts just over two minutes long. I surely hope Ms. Unga records a full album; it would be interesting to see what else she is capable of.


Snow & Voices, a side-project for singer-songwriter Lauri Kranz, released their self-titled debut album earlier this year, showcasing Kranz’s beautiful voice and compelling songwriting.

One song found on the album is ‘Go Your Own Way,’ a song written by Lindsay Buckingham and made famous by Fleetwood Mac. Kranz and company create an extraordinary down-tempo version which sounds both solemn and heart-breaking, yet beautifully executed.


Come In, Come In: LIVE was released in 2003 and features singer-songwriter (and Womenfolk’s current featured artist for This Woman’s Work) Hilary Scott performing ten brand new tracks in front of a studio audience of friends and family.

On this, Scott’s rendition of Sinead O’Connor’s ‘The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance’ is a standout. With slight doses of country swirled in with Scott’s confident singing, the song immediately takes hold of its listener.


Downloads:
Kristin Hersh - Trouble
Jordis Unga - The Man Who Sold The World (live)
Snow & Voices - Go Your Own Way
Hilary Scott - The Last Day Of Our Acquaintance (live)

The Star Of Bermuda

Let me start off by mentioning that it was very difficult to think of how to properly introduce Heather Nova and her music to anyone who may be unfamiliar with her. Since the early 90’s, she has been an artist that I have listened closely to and I’m still astonished that over a decade later, she remains relatively unknown in America.

Nova was born Heather Allison Frith on July 6, 1967 in Bermuda - a place decidedly not known for its rockstars, and her life since has been about as idyllic as her birthplace. During much of her childhood, Nova sailed the ocean with her family on their 40-foot yacht which sailed the Caribbean and was educated by her parents. Needless to say, with no television, much of her time was spent listening to her parents’ record collection.

In her late teens, Nova enrolled to study art at the Rhode Island School of Design, where she created several short films and would compose the musical scores for them using her talent for guitar playing, slowly realizing that music had been a stronger passion of hers than she first realized.

After graduating in 1989, Nova took to her newfound ambition of songwriting and comprised a demo tape of original songs and naively walked into the New York offices of Columbia Records where she simply asked for a recording contract. Predictably, she was turned away, but remained undeterred.

After a move to London to continue her search for a record contract, Nova was eventually discovered by Abbo, a producer for Big Cat Records. With his assistance, they released Nova’s first EP under her original name (which would later be re-issued as the These Walls EP under her stage name).

The next few years saw Nova remaining in England, performing around the London circuit and eventually, the release of her full-length debut album, Glow Stars in 1993. With its release, and through solid touring, Nova began building a strong fan base and soon recorded her first live album, Blow later that same year.

In 1994, Nova was signed to Sony Music and saw the release of Nova’s major-label debut, Oyster later that year in the U.K (it was later released in America the following year featuring different cover). Promotion and heavy touring made Oyster and its first single, ‘Walk This World,’ a moderate commerical success and also became the first taste of Nova’s music for many in the United States.

All of the music that Nova was creating during the early 90’s led up to the beautiful sounds found on ‘Oyster.’ Beautiful, sexy, dark, somber, and bittersweet tones were infused to create a truly breathtaking album. The mesmerizing ‘Island,’ whose siren-like intro is simply unforgettable, is a song which Nova would often dedicate to the memory of Nicole Brown-Simpson and other battered women and victims of domestic violence. The eerie ‘Blue Black’ and epic-sounding ‘Sugar’ also allude to violence and victimhood, but are arranged so beautifully, that it’s difficult to not be taken by the sheer power of the music.

Nature is also of major importance to Nova, and a listener will find that most of her catalogue is built upon an obvious influence of spending the bulk of her life near the ocean.

While touring extensively to promote Oyster during much of 1995 and 1996, Live from the Milky Way, a live EP recorded while Nova was touring through Amsterdam, was released to the joy of many fans. Like Blow, this recording captures Nova where she truly shines, in front of an audience. Though a small release, Milky Way is raw and intense.

Despite a record label re-shuffle, Nova’s appropriately titled Siren was released in June of 1998 and remained true to the beautiful voice and gorgeous melodies that she was becoming known for. Yet this time, there was a subtle change in direction; Siren seemed a bit more polished and less raw, but also slightly more experimental. While songs like ‘I’m Alive’ fit more of the themes found in Oyster, other tracks like ‘What A Feeling,’ ‘Not Only Human’ and ‘Ruby Red’ serve as some of the most refreshing songs Nova has ever written.

Most of the songs on Siren are also considerably more upbeat and accessible than Nova’s previous work. The albums three major singles - ‘London Rain (Nothing Heals Me Like You Do)’, ‘Heart And Shoulder,’ and ‘I’m The Girl’ - found themselves on heavy rotation and on an array of compilations throughout America and Europe.

While in-between albums, a recording of her 1998 performance in Cologne, Germany was later released as Nova’s third live album entitled Wonderlust.

If Siren hinted at a change in direction, South, Nova’s contribution in 2002, was the bold statement. Recorded in Nova’s native Bermuda, South is Nova’s most comfortable and perhaps ‘happiest’ album, full of lighter themes and a more relaxed style. Standouts include the exquisite ‘Help Me Be Good To You,’ ‘Waste The Day’ and the album’s two singles, ‘I’m No Angel’ and ‘Virus Of The Mind.’

Like Oyster, South was also re-released in America with different artwork and the pop-infused ‘Welcome,’ a song Nova co-wrote with Dido and Danny Campbell.

Storm found Nova returning to a back-to-basics format, creating an album stripped down to a guitar and Nova’s sweetly delicate voice. However some listeners may feel this is her weakest album, despite the fact that the songs are well constructed and performed flawlessly. The biggest problem here is that as a whole, the songs don’t quite compare to some of Nova’s more moving tracks on other albums. Still, Storm proves that Nova can be as hypnotizing with an acousitc guitar as she can with a full band.

My mouth is full of secrets that I’m too afraid to tell
And my body is full of longing for you to know me well
                            –Heather Nova

Nova’s latest, Redbird, was released earlier this year and marks her sixth studio album. Backed again by a full band, the songs on Redbird are predominantly sunny and warm, featuring little to be found of her haunting earlier work. ‘Welcome’ (previously heard on the US version of South) resurfaces on this album along with such notable tracks as the lilting ‘Motherland,’ ‘Overturned,’ and the title song.

Currently, Redbird is available only in Europe or online as an import.

After performing for over a decade, Heather Nova and her music are constantly evolving, each album bringing something a bit different to any ear willing to take the opportunity to listen. With the overabundance of disposable music out there, one can rest assured that the passion in Nova’s songs is genuine.

Nova continues to reside in Bermuda, with her producer/husband, Felix Tod and their young son, Sebastian.

Downloads:

Blue Black
Not Only Human
Virus Of The Mind
Motherland

WWW:
Heather Nova - official site
Heather Nova - fan site

This Woman’s Work: Hilary Scott

Missouri-based singer-songwriter Hilary Scott creates the kind of music that seems timeless. Rather than creating the ’sound of the moment,’ Scott and her loyal band create musical landscapes. The instruments employed in her songs seem to do more than accentuate Scotts capable voice.

With her latest release, Out Of The Wildnerness, Scott continues her trademark style, blending rock fundamentals, a powerful voice and an obvious love of the craft to create some truly unique sounds.

Womenfolk is proud to introduce the fifth in its This Woman’s Work series with the inclusion of Hilary Scott.

Sobby Pink Songs

Norwegian folkster Ane Brun is a name you won’t soon forget and a sound you’ll wish you heard long ago.

Unlike most musicians who claim to have been writing songs before high school, Brun was 21 before she seriously took an interest in playing and spent her early twenties developing her unique style before she began to compose her own music.

In 2000, Brun relocated to Stockholm and started to perform her material in clubs and festivals, slowly earning her fan-base, releasing demos and slowly solidifying the songs that would become her debut album.

Spending Time With Morgan became Ane Brun’s full-length debut. Released in 2003, this amazing collection of songs introduce Brun’s distinctive voice and intimate style to the world. Although predominately an acoustic album, Morgan (the name Brun uses to reference her guitar) is incredibly hypnotizing; casual enough to play on a lazy Sunday afternoon, but rich with unique flourishes. The magic begins with the album’s beautiful opener, ‘Humming One Of Your Songs,’ whose chorus will no doubt resonate in your mind.

‘Are They Saying Goodbye?,’ Brun’s song of regret, finds the listener effortlessly being carried by her clear singing.

Truly, these are the kinds of songs you don’t mind getting stuck in your head.

Brun’s follow-up came this year with A Temporary Dive, which easily serves as a seamless continuation of the songs off of Morgan.

Although a shorter album, Dive does present its share of surprises, namely with ‘Song No. 6,’ a folky, foot-tappin’ gem in which Brun teams with the equally distinctive Ron Sexsmith.

So I curse upon his face
He’s a symbol of my own mistake
Could it be that she
Makes me love him more
                            –Ane Brun

Ane Brun regularly performs throughout Europe and just recently shared the stage with singer-songwriter Keren Ann.

Brun will also be making a rare U.S. appearance with two nights at The Living Room in New York City (October 25th and 26th).

To hear more by Ane Brun, be sure to visit her official site, which offers several songs to listen to, as well as an opportunity to purchase her music.

Downloads:
Humming One Of Your Songs
Are They Saying Goodbye?
Where Friend Rhymes With End
Song No. 6 featuring Ron Sexsmith

WWW:
Ane Brun - official site
Ron Sexsmith - official site