Album Review

Laurie Levine – Six Winters

• 5th Nov 2012

Six Winters is the superb third album from acclaimed South African folk singer/ songwriter Laurie Levine. She has a beautiful voice, plaintive and melancholy yet also strong and powerful. This gorgeous album’s mix of folk, country and Appalachian music with just a hint of African rhythm thrown in gives a very contemporary folk sound.

If there is a theme here it is coping with grief. There are several tracks where struggles and hard times are depicted, where love goes badly wrong, but all the sorrows are tackled with great emotional depth. While the superb vocals stand out throughout, it is also well worth noting that Levine is backed by some fine musicians. There are lovely touches of pedal steel guitar, harmonica and violin in several tracks.

Oh Brother opens the album in stark but powerful fashion. It’s an emotional song that talks of reaching rock bottom but not knowing how to climb. The grief is so clear and painful yet the vocals have a fragile beauty. The title track comes second, contrasting lyrically with a defiant tone and some lovely piano and violin backing. The Americana feel and slightly faster tempo gives this an upbeat air.

I Won’t Ask Him Why is a quieter love song with an upbeat, almost pop, sound. Levine’s vocals are soft and tender, with some lovely guitar work in the closing section. Stray is similarly upbeat but has a folky feel and vocals that are almost playful as she waits for her lover to return.

Where My Soul Sings has a country edge and Levine’s vocals have a catch that is emotional and beguiling. The big finish is outstanding as her voice soars and dips. Not Gonna Cry starts with banjos and develops into a powerful country sound. This one is defiant and strong, the vocals telling of overcoming life’s problems while projecting a resilient image.

Hand To My Heart is slower and has a tender, aching beauty. A gentle piano backs plaintive vocals before strings soar and Levine’s voice cut through a layered background quite exquisitely. Where Have You Gone continues the country feel with the banjo prominent and the vocals smooth and lilting.

There is one cover on the album. A slow and passionate version of June Carter Cash’s classic Ring Of Fire brings a whole new take to this wonderful song. At times the vocals are almost spoken, yet Levine also raises her voice in a powerful lament that is truly heartbreaking in its beauty. To take on such an iconic song was a brave choice, and the result is stunning.

Beautiful Loser sees a deep male voice added as counterpoint to Levine’s higher vocals and it works very well. Quite simply it’s another lovely track. Heaven’s Door builds from a piano melody via an electronic drum beat and a banjo backs impassioned vocals. This one is slower, yet powerful and inspiring.

The final track So Long Farewell opens with a banjo alongside vocals that have a childlike feel, yet also a world weariness that can only come from experience of emotional pain. Loss, regret and heartache are all portrayed with real feeling in a closing track that is a perfect ending to a fine album.

Laurie Levine has a quite wonderful voice and marries it to her undoubted writing talent to produce a memorable collection of songs. I loved this album the first time I listened to it, and many plays later it simply gets better and better. There is not a weak track on it at all; indeed it is hard to pick a favourite song. Anyone who likes folk, country or Americana music will appreciate the beauty of Levine’s music.

Laurie Levine will be in the UK during November and December playing ten shows. Unfortunately the most northerly of these is in Yorkshire, meaning that many of us will miss out on what I’m sure will be a musical treat. Still, at least with the release of Six Winters the UK will soon discover the wonderful talents of this young South African woman.

Venue: Six Winters
Support Band: ADA Global