Naomi
Ashley – Trying To Fly (Independent)
Chicago-based Naomi Ashley is a much loved and valued
singer-songwriter on her local scene – so much so, the Illinois Arts Council
helped fund the recording of “Trying To Fly”. It’s an unusual arrangement,
which seems to have benefitted all concerned, including the listener, who gets
to hear an on-form singer-songwriter backed by fine musicians and
sympathetically produced.
Indeed “Trying To Fly” sounds just wonderful. The
instrumentation is fulsome and rounded, and Ashley sings her songs with a
hushed passion that’s wonderfully seductive; and shares a certain tone with the
vocal stylings of Lucinda Williams’ mellower moments.
As for her material, Ashley writes with a full
understanding of American roots music, especially folk and country, though
she’s perilously hard to pin down. That’s down to both the range on
non-traditional instrumentation employed, and her songs, which are always
accessible and chock full of pop smarts.
The collection is launched with the title track,
where a simple riff provides backbone and plentiful detail expands the track
into something grand. Above all this Ashley sings beautifully and the result is
a suitably spellbinding introduction. It’s followed by “Niagara Falls” and a
string section provides perfect accompaniment.
“Jennie Wise” confirms her folk influences with a
narrative that brings to mind ‘60s pop songwriters like Graham Gouldman and Roy
Wood, but delivered and arranged with rootsy intensity. The album concludes
with “Chinatown On Christmas Eve”, which indicates it’s not just Tom Waits who
can write Christmas correlated songs with all-year-round appeal.
Phil S.
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