Full Review

Corinne West – The Promise

Corinne’s third album sees her take a slightly more relaxed and acoustic approach than her previous discs ‘Bound for the Living’ and ‘Second Sight’ which both had a distinct upbeat country/bluegrass feel. Here she explores a smoother sound, instrumentally similar to the Cowboy Junkies, but manages to maintain her signature vocal style across the album.

The album was recorded in remote Canada, and the beauty of the landscape where the songs were formed has been transferred to songs, the lyrics and the arrangements – there’s certainly plenty of open space to be found throughout ‘The Promise’.

Instrumentally this feels a little less country than her previous discs, and the slower more relaxed air gives the songs a more laid-back, almost West-Coast feel at times, and there are couple of beautiful slow songs that wash over the listener with honey vocals and lush backing from guitars and organ.

Highlights include the beautiful guitar and vocals of ‘Lily Ann’, the delicate delivery of vocals and instruments on ‘The Promise’, and the excellent ‘The Stranger’ where Corinne and the musicians seem to channel Margo Timmins and the Cowboy Junkies circa ‘The Trinity Sessions’.

This album marks a departure in style for Corinne, but it’s one that really works and gels, and the whole album flows perfectly from start to finish.