BRIGID MAE POWER
'Burning Your Light'
(Fire Records)
Having released three haunting albums of her own material( 'Head Above Water' , was one of our favourite records of last year), Irish singer Brigid Mae Power has chosen to cover half a dozen songs that not only show her diverse influences but what a remarkable interpreter of song she is. From Bob Dylan to Patsy Cline, Aretha Franklin to traditional folk, this is a quietly eclectic selection.
Dylan's 'One More Cup of Coffee' has a tender ache to it. Over a delicately strummed guitar, Power's sensitive voice understands each word. There's a sadness in the line: 'You've never learned to read or write/There's no books upon your shelf' that I'd not felt before. Townes Van Zandt’s 'I’ll Be Here In The Morning' shows how blurry that line between folk and country music is, and what a hugely underrated songwriter Van Zandt was.
Her interpretation of the late Jason Molina's 'Didn't it Rain?' is one of the most poignant moments here. It is a song about finding strength and offering support to others. So many heart-wrenching lines, that linger long after listening:
'Through the blinding rain, through the swaying wires
If I see you struggle, I will not turn my back...'
Power treats his work with extraordinary delicacy. Molina was never recognised during his lifetime and, of all songs here, I implore you to find the original (recorded as Songa:Ohia) after listening to this.
'Burning Your Light' by Brigid Mae Power is available now on Fire Records
