Harmonium
Charlotte Greig : Quite Silent (UK,2005)***° (G->PERF)
This fifth album by the Malta born Charlotte has two very distinctive sides. Half of the tracks on this album are selfpenned, the other half are traditionals. The first side shows a very qualitative and beautiful folkvoice. Here she interprets also the folk songs in a distinctive, personal, calm and moody style. These warm, moody songs with integrity sound like they have some inner calm, and some spiritual flavour provided or confirmed by the nicely played harmonium melodic-rhythmic droning. That style leans to folk and folkrock, more often in a more acidic way, without ever being completely folk. The songs are played on acoustic guitars, harmonium, melodica, mandolin, banjo and plucked strings. This playing is tempered and with a calm pulse. In between the perfectly listen of the first side and the second part we hear a nature recording. Second side features much more easy-listening folk songs. The arrangements of these tracks are more focused on the acoustic guitar fundament and the melodies are mellower. Some very quiet background ambient sounds were arranged by Dual.
