Basia Bulat

by Jeremy Hodges

Singer-songwriter who's way ahead of the competiton

"The vulnerable, very human way that she approaches her songwriting makes the album instantly accessible. The poetry of her writing give rise to a very grown up kind of music, the kind that you cannot ignore."

The never-ending queue of Canadian folk singers trudging across the Atlantic to ply their trade on these shores invariably lumbers us with a dearth of talentless crooners and pluckers. Occasionally however, we’re introduced to a musical gem of such beguiling beauty that it’ll knock you clean off your perch.

Ontario-based Bulat independently released an EP in 2005 and was subsequently snapped up by Rough Trade to add to their rapidly-growing stable. ‘Oh, My Darling’, her full length debut, delivers an escapist, joyous album of pitch perfect folk pop.

Bulat’s appeal immediately lies with her sultry vocals that flutter between soul, jazz, folk and pop. To reduce her to a gaggle of genres though does not come close to doing her justice. Think all the truly great female vocalists wrapped up in one tidy little package; she is an English summer - balmy, breezy and romantic. The band’s light-hearted piano melodies, tender string arrangements and chamber pop waft around you until you fall head over heels in love over and over again. But all sweetness and light it ain't; the songwriting isn’t just confined to spouting the joys of spring but explores the peaks and pitfalls of life, love and relationships; the dark and the light.

The vulnerable, very human way that she approaches her songwriting makes the album instantly accessible. The poetry of her writing gives rise to a very grown up kind of music, the kind that you cannot ignore. The ambition of her songwriting is in clear evidence on the sensational Northern soul-tinged ‘Snakes And Ladders’; "So we played a game of snakes and ladders / Gambled our mistakes / Didn't know what could come after / Threw away the cards / Who thinks it could matter? / Oh, who believes in fate anyway?"

The mountian of apathy that Basia Bulat will need to conquer is inevitable; she sings love songs, she’s an attractive female folk singer that sounds a bit like Joni Mitchell. But these are accusations that could be levelled at any number of artists around at the moment, and most of them are average. It’ll be grossly unfair if she gets lumbered with this tag, Bulat is an outrageously talented songwriter who deserves to be recognised as such; by her peers and commercially.
stella said on November 7th 2007 [report abuse]

I agree 100%--I sincerely hope she receives the recognition she more than deserves. Jeremy-congrats on recognizing real talent.

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