Album Review

Julia Fordham – Earth Mate

• 9th Oct 2024

Julia Fordham’s debut album was released back in 1988, and many acclaimed albums have followed from the singer songwriter since. That’s not to mention her collaborations with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Joan Armatrading and Sarah McLachlan, recording in Joni Mitchell’s house, writing the theme music for a Demi Moore film and touring with Judie Tzuke, Beverley Craven and Rumer as part of the “Woman To Woman” project.

Her latest release Earth Mate is a ten track album with typically well crafted songs that are delivered in her distinctive voice, which still has incredible range. This is a very personal album, with tracks that speak to both the beginning and end of relationships and the emotions involved. But there are lighter moments too, with touches of jazz and folk giving variety to a lush and musically complex collection.

Lead single My Old Table is autobiographical, taking us through a relationship from romantic beginnings to eventual conflict and breakup. The song is passionately delivered with a slight country edge, the chorus contrasting a kitchen table that has seen it all with the transient nature of love. Chair On The Porch, featuring the great guitarist Gordon Giltrap, sees Forham sing in a higher vocal register on a song that tackles putting on a front when actually suffering in silence.

The title track Earth Mate takes the notion of trying finding a soul mate and develops the theme. What if it doesn’t work out but a child comes from the relationship? There can still be much to celebrate even without a soul mate. Done And Dusted, a duet with Irish singer songwriter Ryan O’Shaughnessy, tells of a relationship that burned to nothing. Another fine duet closes the album, with New Zealander Greg Johnson joining Fordham in track that questions whether to save a relationship or to give it up and have one last drink.

Earth Mate is a fine collection of insightful songs that are both very personal and tackle universal themes. The quality of Julia Fordham’s vocals is impressive, her wide vocal range used to good effect as the music swells and falls. More than three decades on from her debut, Fordham is still producing high quality music.

Label: 444 Records

Release date: 11 October 2024