Is anyone listening to Laura Cantrell?


Cantrell presents a marvelous amalgam of folk, pop and bluegrass. Less bluesy and edgy than Lucinda Williams and with less soul than Gillian Welch, she mixes ingredients that are found in the music of both singers and comes up with a dish that is totally her own. Very pure of voice - a modern Judy Collins comes to mind - she sings completely without angst or drama and the effect is to make the smallest vocal nuances the most telling. LP fanciers should note that her breakthough album "When The Roses Bloom Again" is available in a very nice, quiet and flat, pressing by Sundazed that features a marvelous gatefold jacket. BTW these are not "audiophile" recordings in any sense, though her latest album (CD only)"Humming By The Flowered Vine" was mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling and he puts in his ususal, workmanlike effort. Happy listening.
Marty
viridian

Showing 2 responses by entrope

Rich- I respect your opinion but at the bottom of it all is a voice that I think is simply less well endowed than many others in this type of music. She does possess a certain style and approach and like John Prine could be an acquired taste vocally but Prine is also a great song writer.

Laura is a regional favorite I am sure, much like Heidi Joy here in Omaha. Heidi Joy has great voice with several albums but only regional notice. She seems to have no definitive style covering all popular, spiritual, jazz etc.

At least Laura has a style which in itself can be an attraction.

All in all a matter of taste.