22 March 2023

Melissa Ruth’s fourth self-produced album is one of her strongest to date. Her music sits somewhere between blues and Americana, whilst her lyrics have a folk sensibility to them. She begins with ‘Edith Piaf’, a soft arrangement centred around the fingerpicking of an acoustic guitar supports her slightly fractured vocals that are packed full of emotion and experience. ‘Wild Roses’ with it’s brass addition in the instrumentation gives it a slightly haunted feel but it’s a stand out track which is full of character. A simple lyric is enhanced by the musicality and arrangement. The album concludes on the title track ‘Bones’ and Ruth’s vocals appear to be at their strongest here on this moody ending. To conclude, it’s a fantastic offering from Ruth with its well written songs and excellently production that compliments the style and themes in the lyrics well.  

Laurie Jones turns to songwriting as a cathartic release from life as she maps out her experiences in song. Dark Horse begins with bold electric guitars in the intro of confessional track ‘That Summer’. I’m instantly drawn to Jones’ smooth, authentic vocals. She addresses several real issues in her lyricism from mental health to addiction but ultimately she leads us on the journey to forgiveness. ‘Light Side’ takes the energy levels up a notch as this rockier tune is riddled with guitar riffs and catchy chorus melodies. A highlight on the album is ‘No Hell’, I just love the strings in this arrangement, it adds to the 6/8 time track, which sees Jones at her very best. ‘Letting Go’ is the final song on the album and brings the journey to an end. It’s a lovely record from Jones – a solid production and well written songs, delivered from the heart.