Jackie Oates – Hyperboreans
Jackie’s previous solo album ‘The Violet Hour’ was a well received collection that had moments of real magic, and it brought her to the attention of many and laid down a marker for the future. ‘Hyperboreans’ is proof that she’s delivered on the promise and more, it’s a real step up in every respect and on this evidence she’s certainly one of the very brightest stars on the new folk scene in the UK.
Produced by her brother Jim Moray, ‘Hyperboreans’ has a fuller and more interesting sound than she’s used before (but it’s a still long way short of the creative complexity and daring of Jim’s own albums), and it’s an approach that makes her instantly more engaging and less introspective than her earlier albums.
What comes to the fore is a more confident and mature artist, there’s nothing apologetically quiet about this album; and here her restraint and considered delivery comes across as bold and effective as she mixes simple songs in amongst those with more forceful arrangements.
The choice of material is varied, from a beautiful reading of Nic Jones’ arrangement of ‘Isle of France’, the Alasdair Roberts’ written title track, to an unexpected treasure in a cover of the Sugarcubes’ ‘Birthday’. What is hugely impressive is that Jackie carries all the different songs and styles off with effortless ease; her vocals are always sweet, gentle and engaging.
‘Hyperboreans’ is well considered album that manages to get the balance of songs, arrangements, and pace just about perfect, add to this the beautiful vocals and you have one of the strongest folk albums of 2009.
