Thea Gilmore – Liejacker

13th May 2008

Over the years, many people have swung with the moods of the Oxfordshire thinking person, Thea Gilmore. Including such roving forays as the Shania Twain spirited celebration of the independence of her gender, in her spunkiest album ‘Lipstick Conspiracies’, to the more brooding ‘Rules For Jokers,’ as well as the classic pop nostalgia embracing covers collection of ‘Loft Music’. Will have been saddened and a little upset to hear of this genuine lady’s battle with the demon that is depression.

However, although a little clichéd, every cloud does have a silver lining and it appears that this new album has been used as a therapy session. It shows that this artist is at her most contented with a guitar in hand and a mic in front of her.

Opener ‘Old Soul’, featuring Mr. The Zutons himself, Dave McCabe is a warm hug of a duet as the pair search warmly through the versus and meet up for a heart-melting folk/pop bolstered chorus.

A slow building, journeying lag attaches to the reflective, forward looking and acoustic threading ‘Dance In New York’, lighting up the fact that a lot of thinking has been done in the build up to this foraging full-length.

‘Rosie’ is a Leonard Cohen flavoured blues pushed, poetic insight into the mind set of one with a mature outlook and the troubles that naturally attached themselves to it. It is through ‘Roll On’ that a country/soul coated Sheryl Crow pitch rides along a slow throbbing guitar and pulsing dream beat base, providing reflection and slow rhythm. As the album builds, you sense that Thea slowly feeling more and more comfortable at re-opening her world to the public.

That said her material is very much shrouded in philosophical imagery, ‘Icarus Wind’. It also features a rippling piano element, something that has been deployed with heart tugging precision over her ten year career.

A longing theme is instilled through a slower vocal injection than you would normally expect from this independent minded muso. This is helped by a seeping acoustic element that litters tracks like ‘Slow Journey’, as well as ‘And You Shall Know No Other God But Me’.

Those who have followed Thea throughout her career will know that her profile was greatly helped, when several years back she was personally invited to tour with Joan Baez. Therefore, ‘The Lower Road’ that features Joan Baez oozes nostalgia, as her weather worn vocals mingle succulently with Gilmore’s polished contribution, something that was a signature of Baez in her early days.

This is a ranging, well thought out and slow swaying release from Gilmore and it also restores some faith in human nature. No matter how down you get there is always a back, just ask Thea!