SORA - HEARTWOOD - 2009
Sister, Sky, Singing Bird Soaring, Chirping Bird. All of these things
are "Sora" and go some way to explaining this eclectic Canadian's music.
Although her debut album was a collection of UK Folk, Heartwood expands
into new and more personal territory.
There are obvious comparisons to musical influences Loreena McKennitt
and Sarah McLachlan, but Sora's mixed classical / folk background is
perhaps her greatest asset here. Not only does she convey a real feeling
in her songs, she also has the kind of vocal control which allows her
mezzosoprano voice to smoulder in all the right places and literally
"fly" when called upon.
Many of Heartwood's lyrics express sadness, pain, missing people and
places, but far from being a "sad" album, I would call it "melancholic",
requiring close listening to really appreciate its true emotional
depths.
In short, this is an album that's been a long time coming and it was
definitely worth the wait. We look forward to seeing her do some
concerts in Europe in the future, perhaps even in Sora, Catalonia ...
Paul De Micheli
Mondo Blu
Barcelona
