Kathryn Williams & Neill MacColl

by Charlotte Otter

Lovely first class folk

"It is a record which drips with restrained autumnal beauty, from the songwriting to the production to the crystal whisper of Kathryn Williams herself."

Given the pedigree of the collective talent on show, Kathryn Williams' collaboration with Neill MacColl was never going to disappoint. Williams is already a big star in folk circles with her Mercury Prize nomination for 'Little Black Numbers' back in 2000, whilst Neill MacColl is the son of Ewan MacColl, the man who wrote 'The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face' .

Although common consensus dictates that Kathryn Williams would prefer it if her music was not labeled folk, it is a tag that comes all too easily when faced with the gorgeous, pure music on her latest album, 'Two'. It is a record which drips with restrained autumnal beauty, from the songwriting to the production to the crystal whisper of Kathryn Williams herself.

Guitars chime, pianos tinkle and the occasional trumpet or viola crop up to support Kathryn Williams' dreamy lyrics whilst Neill MacColl's subtle vocal harmonies are just enough to add a little colour to Kathyrn’s lead. The instrumentation is tight; on the quaint “Innocent When You Dream” (Tom Waits), Neill and Kathryn harmonise throughout, and apparently the song was recorded in just one take.

The spellbinding 'Come With Me' and the gorgeous finale, 'Holes In Your Life' lend a certain intamacy to the duetting pair, allowing Williams and MacColl to take advantage of the spontenaity created by their lovely, stripped-down folk. 'Two' is a record for all lovers of the acoustic guitar.

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