Anna Ling – Light: Album Review

By John Barlass on 3rd December 2025 • ( Leave a comment )

Devon-based singer, composer and Choir MD Anna Ling celebrates the medium of light in all its metaphorical forms on Light, her stunning debut album. Whether in a summer meadow or by a winter fireside, these songs will work their ethereal magic

Release Date: Out Now

Label: Self Release

Formats: CD / Digital

MESMERIZING

Devon-based singer, composer and Choir MD, Anna Ling self-produces and records her music from her yurt, located in South Devon, not far from the banks of the beautiful River Dart. Light, her debut album is already attracting plaudits from a number of prestigious sources, including BBC Radio 3 and Jazz FM and – I’ll tell you what – those plaudits are richly deserved.

Indeed, BBC Introducing recently described Light as “Mesmerizing,” and I’d go along with that description entirely. In fact, if I may presume to tweak the judgement of the hallowed BBC, I’d also add works like absorbing, ethereal, mystical and thoroughly melodic to help paint a more vivid picture of this music.

SKILL MATCHED BY EMPATHY

Light is an album that should be heard as a single, cohesive, entity. Layered vocal harmonies, unusual rhythms and reflective, often emotional, lyrics are a constant feature. The production of the songs and the choice of instrumentation is exemplary. Anna is joined by a list of guest musicians that includes vocalist Briony Greenhill, clarinetist Isis Wolf-Light, bassist Misha Mullov-Abbado and percussionist Joshua Green and the ensemble’s combined sound needs to be heard to be believed.

Misha’s bass is a solid, rich, presence throughout and Isis’s clarinet is heartwarming. Joshua’s percussion is subtle and always entirely appropriate to the mood of the song, whilst softly-plucked guitar and mellow violin play their parts delightfully. And the great thing about Light is that none of this well-chosen instrumentation is never overstated. The skill of the performers is matched entirely by their empathy for the music. There’s room for every instrument to be heard and to make its point but nothing detracts from those lush vocal harmonies that are the lifeblood of this album.

A CENTRAL METAPHOR

The album’s title is a nod to Joni Mitchell’s Blue. Just as Joni wove the word “blue” through her songs, so (most of) Anna’s songs here contain the word “light.” Light is the central metaphor throughout the album in Anna’s search for hope amidst the challenges of our times.

It’s difficult to find words that adequately describe Anna’s songs. The music on Light is pastoral and warming in equal measures. It’s equally suited to the setting of a warm summer meadow or to a cosy winter fireside; whatever the location, the best advice I can offer is: sit back and dream – and let Anna’s music wash over and around you.

LAYERED HARMONIES

It’s churlish, too. To attempt to pick out highlights on an album that is so consistently satisfying – but, I’ll have a go…

Opening track, Inevitable, sets the tone and template for the album. It’s as light as air, and Anna’s voice lures the listener like the song of a Siren. And the backing – this time of lightly-plucked guitar, ponderous bass and oh-so-light percussion – fits the mood perfectly. Nothing is Lost is, perhaps, closer to what listeners may recognize as a ‘conventional’ folk song; melodic and warming, and the instrumentation – banjo, shimmering mandolin, bass and violin – is, once again, thoroughly in accord with the feel of the song.

And so it goes on. Isis’s clarinet (an instrument I love to hear) plays a starring role in BttFL, Oshun and Sun to the Bird, the layered harmonies are particularly attention-grabbing in Untrimmable Light, BttFL and Oshun and fans of mystical, engaging lyrics should lend a special ear to Butterfly, Limerence and closing track, Promise of Light.

WHAT’S NEXT FOR ANNA LING?

It’s almost impossible to suggest a comparator for the music that Anna Ling produces but, if pushed, I’d suggest that anyone who has been entranced by the music of Sandy Denny will love this album.

So – what’s next for Anna Ling? Well, rumour has it that Anna has managed to secure an Arts Council England DYCP grant to support her next project. It’s called BirdSong, and it’s a new collection of musical passages, taken from the perspective of birds. Now – THAT sounds interesting…

Watch the official video to The Moon, a track from the album, below: