Lullabies

Lullabies – cradle songs – a term derived from the middle English ‘lullen’ (lull) and ‘bye’ (near), and, much further back, the Hebrew ‘Lilith-abi’ (Lilith begone) – used to scare away child-stealing Lilith from the crib. Here, on Canadian singer Lapell’s album, lullabies are drawn from across the world, each embraced by the sweet spirit of sleep. We begin with the ancient French ‘Isabeau’, otherworldly and not without its darker depths of foreboding, a depth that underlies and sometimes frames the tunes’ sweet lulling. Lapell’s own ‘Go to Sleep’ sounds more than half familiar – perhaps indicative of many a lullaby here, each of them sharing one purpose, but each stretching out its own feel and form, whether across Yiddish ‘Oyfn Pripitchek’ – prominent across pre-Holocaust central Europe, embued with sadness and calm – or the Welsh ‘Suo Gân’, its music a corral of comfort and protection. Another Hebrew lullaby, ‘Numi Numi’ is lulling enough to yearn for a lie-down, while Japanese ‘Lullaby of Takeda’, just voice and solo guitar, is exquisite. Put it on late at night, and don’t set an alarm.