What Love Is

Katie Spencer’s third album proves that she is a fine singer-songwriter, and an excellent guitarist with a style that at times provides echoes of Bert Jansch. Her best songs, like the opening title-track, ‘Forget Me Not’, and ‘Carry It All’, are slow, melodic and personal, many ruminating on the theme of love, and treated with the occasional jazz edge. She is backed on much of the set by a small band, with pedal steel, clarinet, double bass and occasional drums or synth matched against her own guitar work. And to prove what a fine guitarist she is, she includes a gently cool and relaxing instrumental track, ‘Back To The Brightness Above’, that demonstrates her finger-picking style with a little steel guitar added. The only problem is the lack of variety. There are some great tracks here, but the occasional change of mood or tempo would be welcome.