English folk holds the voice of the legendary Shirley Collins in high regard. Following on from last year's Heart's Ease, Shirley is back with a new EP called Crowlink. Out as of Friday on Domino, the simple, brief release stirs the soul and touches the heart.
Opener "Across the Field" eases into "At Break of Day", a faintly ambient piece. The found sound here anchors Shirley's voice to the elements, accentuating the timelessness that is a hallmark of nearly everything Collins has recorded. Elsewhere, "Through All Eternity" summons the ages, while "My Sailor Boy" cuts into the heart with icy, yet pure precision. Shirley's vocals, clear as a bell as always, are swept around by the sound of waves and water hitting the shore, and the overall effect stunningly evokes something unbelievably sad and epic. Crowlink ends with the traditional "The Rose and the Briar". Crowlink, named after a song on last year's Heart's Ease, serves as a worthy appendix to that fine record.
Crowlink is out now via Domino.
More details on Shirley Collins via the official website, or the official Facebook page.
[Photo: Enda Bowe]