Laura Borealis
Laura
(Gooseberry Records)
On the back cover, the former Halifax-based artist says Laura was inspired by and is dedicated to the nature and animals of the Mauricie region of Quebec, her home now.
A sense of stillness and peace associated with living close to nature pervades these richly arranged (piano, Rhodes, oboe, violin and viola, flute) songs. They reflect too, perhaps, the kind of life this artist lives with her family---she has three children---and the way she spends her days, outside of music shes a Reiki master.
The Carriage Ride sounds like a lovely, pensive response to Brent Randalls Horsedrawn Delight---as if the pair of songs offer contrasting versions of the same outing. Further down the track list, Are You Laura? is a short story set to music. The singers performance on it calls to mind Lucinda Williams delivering one of her wary, even shattered, survivor stories. Following that track, Remember dwells in the darkened freak folk realm.
Among the 17 mostly short (around the three-minute mark) songs, there are instrumentals. The first three songs are among the longest and most conventional alt-country slow numbers. Dont be fooled and keep with this album. Laura Borealis plays Gus Pub on April 11.
Sean Flinn
Canadian artist
