One of Scotland’s leading vocalists, Hannah Rarity, turns her talent to some classic covers with entrancing results.
SWEET, RICH VOCALS
New music from Hannah Rarity has been a rare thing in recent times. Since winning the Scottish Young Traditional Musician of the year almost nine years ago, there have been just two albums featuring her sweet, rich vocals to savour. So the release of this EP, short as it is, is very welcome indeed.
For the last few years, Hannah’s live shows have featured a number of covers alongside her originals and traditional Scottish songs, and the line brings together three of them, along with an original song penned with Boo Hewardine.
The choice of the covers may at first seem a little odd; Tom Waits’ Martha is after all sung from the perspective of a man in his 60s getting back in touch with his first love, not an obvious one for a woman in her 30s! But then Waits was in his early 20s when he wrote it, so…
SHIVERS DOWN THE SPINE
Madison Cunningham’s Life According To Raechel – a sublime hymn of regret of time not spent with her grandmother – perhaps fits more easily. Then there is the EP’s final song: Jimmy Webb’s classic Witchita Lineman. Rarity and her band had taken to doing the track live as an encore featuring humorous interplay between the two guitars of Anna Massie and Innes White as well as showcasing the singer’s vocal strength with the sustained notes towards the end. But on the EP this is a serious take.
The three covers actually work really well together. All feature musical structures which break the rules of chord changes and in doing so send shivers down the spine. All feature unusual choruses which showcase Hannah’s fantastic voice. And all feature personal emotionally-charged lyrics which hit hard, whether “I remember quiet evenings trembling close to you,” “Busy hands, I’ll set ’em down, to say I love you here and now,” or “I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time.”
ACOUSTIC AND UNDERSTATED
It’s brave to put one of your own songs in company like this, but The Leaving fits nicely lyrically and in terms of song structure. Co-written with Boo Hewerdine, the song is an apology from a footloose partner who can’t settle down. Think Beeswing from the other side.
Hannah Rarity and Innes White Photo: Quaperlake Photo
All four tracks are acoustic and understated, featuring the aforementioned Anna Massie, perhaps best known as the chief raconteur of Blazin’ Fiddles, on acoustic guitar; the seemingly ubiquitous Innes White on acoustic and electric guitars; and Charlie Stewart on bass. White also takes on production duties – he’s rapidly becoming the leading producer of modern Scottish traditional music – and he’s created an intimate sound where you can almost hear the log fire crackling in the background.
The EP is available from November the 13th, and Hannah is on tour throughout the UK in November; check her website for details.
None of the tracks are available on YouTube currently, but if you are not familiar with her vocals, the video below will give you a taste.
Hannah Rarity: Website