Amelia Curran

I am an absolute sucker for a songwriter with a good voice, a simple guitar and good songs. Over the years the likes of Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Koloc etc. have been a regular part of my listening but recently there has been a real dearth of talent in the form but when this album hit my player my ears pricked up and Ms Curran’s rich voice really grabbed my attention.

The music falls under the banner of ‘Americana’ – a ridiculously wide banner – although ‘Canadiana’ would be more meaningful as the lady is part of a burgeoning Canadian scene - but her songs are very individual statements and she has a refreshingly simple presentation although there is plenty of sophistication in her words and themes.

She incorporates folk, Blues, elements of Country and her themes are deeply felt tales of lost loves, break-ups, personal and Canadian history but all without any sense of self-pity or blame.
‘Bye Bye Montreal’ has her voice over a simple guitar leading into a gently played accordion describing the end of an affair while ‘Ah Me’ has a lilting quality and some lovely guitar playing. ‘The Mistress’ is full of righteous ‘pissed-offedness’ at the feelings of a Mistress who feels used by her lover – again played simply and without excess.
She can do whimsy on tracks like ‘The Company Store’ or ‘The Dozens’ and these lift the mood on an intense and thoughtful collection but it is the deeply felt numbers like ‘Wrecking Ball’ or the achingly heartfelt closer ‘Last Call’ that will stay in the memory.

Amelia Curran is a real throwback to singers who were writing and singing from the heart and not just out for effect and ‘Hunter Hunter’ is 40 minutes of intense and rather lovely music that doesn’t apologise, just IS.