Shirley Collins is a legend. Or should I say that her voice is? The English folk singer has recorded numerous records and each one feels like a gift from the heavens. There's a purity in her singing that touches the soul. And the material on Archangel Hill, out today on Domino, offers more evidence of her skills.
"High and Away" is spry and nimble, despite the serious lyrics, while "Lost in a Wood" is a gentle ramble. The bittersweet lyrics on this one and others effortlessly go into your heart. Shirley wastes nothing, rendering these traditional numbers with an acute directness that only heightens their power. "Hares on the Mountain" is achingly beautiful, while "Hand and Heart" rides forward on a gentle harpsichord figure. This one features lyrics from Shirley's uncle, and the fact that this was a poem to a woman he was in love with while engaged to another woman only adds a further emotional wrinkle to the song.
A treasure, Shirley Collins conjures up a myriad of emotions with little obvious effort. She opens her mouth and sings, and time seems to stop. There's a rumor that Archangel Hill is going to be her last recording. Dear God, let's hope it's not.
Archangel Hill is out today via Domino.
[Photo: Grant Gee]