We Are Each Other, This Will Set Us Free

The debut album from Bristol-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist boci covers a lot of ground musically, yet is rooted in contemporary alt-folk. A mix of instrumentals and songs, We Are Each Other… carries very welcome messages of unity and healing, and does truly feel restorative as well as contemplative and, at times, transcendental.

boci’s voice is generally soft but this is not to say inexpressive. On tracks such as ‘(I Feel Like a Bird)’ there is a beautiful intimacy to her articulation and on others like ‘Getting High’ she explores more jazzy aesthetics. Her violin playing is dexterous and groovy, as we hear right from the beginning with ‘Stories’, and shows a smattering of folk stylistics throughout. She is joined by a few other musicians on bass, drums, harp, trumpet and vocals, who all do a great job of showcasing boci’s talent as well as enjoying a few moments to shine themselves. At a few choice moments there is a bit of ambient synth that never seems incongruous and occasionally breaks the surface to drive the rhythm on. Nowhere is this more apparent than on the aptly named ‘Now is the Time’.