Calling

It is heartening when a thing of beauty emerges following an existential threat: this album is a case in point. Several years ago Scottish avant-folk singer-songwriter Jemima Thewes survived a serious illness. During the recovery period she found her voice and this dark and arresting debut album Calling was born.

Thewes’ pensive alto vocals are on all 13 tracks except for the instrumental Aphex Twin cover, ‘Avril 14th’ arranged by her partner, producer and multi-instrumentalist Tim Lane. There is the ear-worm traditional song, ‘Death & The Lady’, but the rest of the album consists of attractive Thewes originals with autobiographical themes around mortality, transformation and ultimately survival and celebration. The combination of instruments is unusual, Thewes playing several including ukulele and shruti box, with Lane on tongue drum and drum kit. Six other musicians guest, nevertheless the arrangements are always delicate and never overstated. Wide influences are discernible, perhaps mostly English and Scottish folk, the album overall having a serious, almost numinous feel leavened by flashes of high energy and joie de vivre. The final track, ‘Hidden’ stands out. A sonic representation of Thewes’ illness journey, its discombobulating string of sonic fragments is in part improvised.