Winds Of Change by Sora Review

Sora
Winds of Change
As a music lover every so often I come across a hidden gem. An album that stands head and shoulders above the rest and is literally quite brilliant. One such album that fits nicely into this category is Winds of Change, the debut album, by talented singer/songwriter Sora. For her first album Sora has pulled together a collection of traditional songs many of which have a strong Celtic feel to them. Recorded whilst heavily pregnant this album carefully blends several styles of music together to create something quite magnificent. With very little backing Sora’s angelic voice is allowed to stand tall. The album starts off with A Piper, which originates from a book of poems published in 1908. A short song with a strong classical feel. The song starts off with a nice burst of the flute. Refreshing and stimulating, a nice piece to kick start the album. The Last Rose of Summer is a slower number again with a strong classical feel. The piano backs Sora’s vocals on this song. Previously recorded by artists like Clannad and Sarah Brightman it was Charlotte Church who made the song popular. The Trees They Grow so High is a traditional folk song arranged by Benjamin Britten. The song has many titles including Daily Growing and Bonny Boy is Young (but Growing). It first appeared in print in 1792 as a piece entitled Lady Mary Ann. The lyrics vary in different versions of the song. The lyrics here are quite moving and sad. Sora manages to capture the sadness of the lyrics in her voice. The end of the song has a really haunting feel to it with Sora’s vocals fading into nothing just silence. Searching for Lambs is a folk song about love on the moors. Sora is joined by Rod Bauman on the violin. Sora’s voice is dramatic and ghostly throughout. It is easy to imagine yourself on the moors whilst listening to this song. A wonderful burst of the flute starts off The Foggy Dew. There are many versions of this song. The first version with this title was of English origin. It is also known as the Foggy, Foggy Dew. There are many theories as to what this song really means. Not really a happy song Sora’s vocals portray a tale of sadness with great ease. My Lagan Love is a striking song with a definite folk/Celtic feel. The tune was originally from Ulster and the words date to the twentieth century. This is possibly a parlour song. Sora takes centre stage on this song with gentle piano backing. Oh Let No Star Compare with Thee is quite a lively song. The piano forms almost a duet with Sora on this number. Skye Boat Song is perhaps the most well known of the songs Sora covers on this album. This is a traditional Scottish song, which recalls the escape of Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) after his defeat at the battle of Culloden in 1746. He escaped with the aid of Flora MacDonald in a small boat to the Isle of Skye. This song is often sung as a lullaby and has been covered by a multitude of artists. Sora puts her own spin on this classic song but does not spoil it in any way. The Salley Gardens is based on a well known poem by William Butler Yeates. It was included in his book – The Wanderings of Origin and Other Poems, which was published in 1889. An enjoyable song that has familiar overtones. It is one of those songs you most probably know but never knew the name of. The Loom is another song that allows Sora’s vocals to really shine. The piano provides light backing on this song giving it added depth. Listening to this album listeners could easily be mistaken for thinking they had been catapulted back in time. Sora has kept all the songs on her debut album simple. She has been careful to retain their traditional and historical feel. This is also a very classy and magical debut album that hits all the right notes. The Lawyer is a lively number with a strong Celtic/folk feel. Sora is joined by the violin on this toe tapping number, which quietens down towards the end. The Gartan Mother’s Lullaby is a traditional Irish song. This is a gentle song as the title suggests. Sora is left to take centre stage on this number. The Singer is the final song on this uplifting and yet relaxing album. This is a fine song to end on. Sora’s voice is reminiscent of a heavenly choir on this bold, refreshing song. Sora sings without instrumental backing on this song, once again showcasing her sublime talents. All too soon the music fades away and the listener is left with an eerie silence. However Sora’s voice is powerful and still echoes in the listeners head long after the album has ended. This album is a great fusion of traditional music with folk, Celtic and classical overtones throughout. Sora’s voice is fresh and striking. Not an album for the faint hearted. Mesmerising!