What a beautifully written debut album from Ezmay Grace. Her collection of folk tales on ‘Lien Gwerin’ make for avid listening. Unashamed in length. Detailed in description. This is traditional storytelling at its contemporary best.
It features a mix of both original and true stories. Drawing on her Cornish identity to weave fascinating accounts featuring a cast of characters often imbued with a mystical air. Opening track ‘The Blackbird’, for example, sketches a female traveller “with bangles of gold / … irises emerald and the blackest jet curls” who is always met with suspicion by townsfolk. Her place “on the outskirts of town” is a minor theme not only here but throughout. Stretching into the tragedy of ‘Joan’ and ghostly horror of ‘Koswick’. The vivid descriptions that Ezmay Grace uses in her lyrics add to their emotional draw. Deep listening becomes a requirement.
She refuses to sacrifice the detail in any of her stories. A refreshing approach in an age where the radio edit could increase exposure. ‘The Lighthouse’ stands at a good seven-and-a-half minutes but is wholly needed to illustrate the devotion of John Henry. Both to his position as lighthouse keeper and his affection for the woman he saves from a watery grave. The repetition of “two hundred steps and twenty-two” acts not only as plain description but further metaphor for his character. In the same way as the light in ‘Faina’ shines on the natural world to reflect, in various ways, the essence of the title character.
Most tracks on ‘Lien Gwerin’ represent a classic Folk sound but moments like the piano-led ‘Moonbeam’ and string-heavy ‘Siren Song’ pepper the album with subtle variance. It keeps the listener engaged as well as speaking to the scenes and settings of each of these tales. All of which invite our undivided attention, and succeed in transporting us into their worlds when we do. They have been lovingly crafted by Ezmay Grace over time, and the result is nothing short of sublime.
You can purchase ‘Lien Gwerin’ via Ezmay Grace’s website here.
Featured Image (C) Ezmay Grace
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