Mara Carlyle - Ancient and Modern EP

You know when you hear a vocalist with real passion, because it sounds unlike anything you’ve heard before. Mara Carlyle’s tone may not be incredibly distinctive, but it is undoubtedly pure, rich, and gorgeous. Her vocals nestle among spacious multi-instrumental arrangements – a warming string section in Bowlface en Provence, a deep bass drum and flutes in Away With These Self-Loving Lads. The instruments are all live and mostly of ancient design, yet the sound is of the now, with just enough quirkiness to keep it interesting. The only criticism is that the lyrics can be a bit unconvincing, but that's a question of personal relevance. Throughout the album there is a tranquil and dreamy sensuousness that bears you, like a boat, over waves of sound. Her honeyed tones transport you to a faraway past and back to the present, as the soulful passion of her voice can transcend epochs and achieve timelessness. [Josh Coppersmith-Heaven]