"when you can hear that voice, isn't it clear?"

Isn't it Clear?

Sarah inhabits that precious melancholic realm known to the poets of old. Her songs ask the kind of existential questions that many of the World's creative dreamers will find disconcertingly familiar.

This album features one of the best recorded guitar sounds I've heard, providing a firm platform for ms Curtis to launch her sparkling vocal twinkles and twirls from. Sarah's yearning soprano trills remind me of 10,000 maniacs or the Sundays. Comparisons are, of course, far too easy, so I must advise the listener to judge for themselves, as ever.

The title track gives me goosebumps every time I hear it, it's not just just the quality of the performance, but also of the sentiment which underlies it. 'Why do you?' has an infectious skippy rhythm with a wicked sudden ending. 'Shalalalalay' brings some pleasantly jazz tinged respite from the intense soul searching of the previous tracks. 'Machine' (512K) ranks close to the title track for the sentiment  - "I'd like you to explain about the rain" - y'man, couldn't agree more.

It's perfectly clear to me that Sarah Curtis is one of the most talented new arrivals to the Avalonian music scene. We look forward to the next installment.

"Clear" is currently available through Growing Needs Bookshop, Speaking Tree and the Glastonbury Record Shop
You can contact Sarah at saravatiye@yahoo.com

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