Review

Lady Blackbird: Blackbird (Foundation Music)

It's a brave soul indeed who not only tackles one of Nina Simone's starkest tunes, "Blackbird", but also calls herself Lady Blackbird into the bargain. The original is a stripped-down chant with claps and hand drums, a field hollering protest song that will darken the skies of anyone's heart.

Lady Blackbird has the same urgent grace as her musical mentor and she really takes, what is an essentially acapella song and adds her own powerful magic and spirit to proceedings.

The throbbing double bass, the serene modal piano and eerie cello squawks add to her startling vocal delivery that proffers further melody and if you listen very carefully you can hear soft brush drumming that is Latin tinged.

There's an unmatched regality throughout proving Lady Blackbird is an incisive and adroit singer. She channels the agony and thick despair on the lyrics too, "cause your mama's name was lonely and your daddy's name was pain and they call you little sorrow 'cause you'll never love again so why you want to fly Blackbird you ain't ever gonna fly".

Somehow she imbues hope and positivity too and this all bodes well for her forthcoming debut album, let's see what else she can seamlessly navigate, shall we? Suffice to say we will be keeping a close eye on her ladyship here at B&S.
Words Emrys Baird