It is said that travel broadens the mind. If ever there is a testimony to this statement it is Louise Latham. Born in Wales, now residing in London, the folk singer has spent time living in Israel and the Netherlands, all the while under the tutelage of the late former Fleetwood Mac guitarist, Bob Weston.
Pedigree in check, Latham releases her debut album Reclaimed on the 25th of July. Infusing a serene sense of folk with acoustic soul and faint rock, the album marks an important milestone for the Cardiff singer and the music scene as a whole.
Tracks ‘Old Soul’, ‘Young Boy’ and opener ‘Saint’ are usual folk rock fare. Latham’s voice is the most outstanding aspect of the album and on these tracks in particular, it is shown to be a venerable weapon in her arsenal.
Where Reclaimed really shines are in the final two songs. ‘Gilded Bird’ is an ethereal, uplifting track that feels like a culmination of the previous nine tracks come to fruition.
Album closer, the eponymous ‘Reclaimed’ continues in this thread. It is a fitting end to a well-travelled, subtle work that lingers in the imagination.
With backing harmonies from her sister Suzanne, this album feels wonderfully homely. Images of puffing chimneys and rolling valleys are conjured up in the listener’s mind, the perfectly compliment to this eclectic collection of folk ballads.
Latham is the latest in a long line of vocally rich female folk storytellers. Citing the likes of Tori Amos, Cara Dillon and the great, velvet voiced Tracey Chapman as inspirations behind Reclaimed. Following in these women’s footsteps will be no easy task by any means. A feat that has been tried by so many and never quite captured, Reclaimed feels like the best shot at it in a long time.
Comparisons, perhaps unfairly, will always be drawn to similar artists that have gone in Latham’s wake. With the likes of Lissie Maurus, Delta Maid and the hugely successful Nerina Pallot already establishing themselves in the market, the appetite for this style of acoustic soul and folk rock is still prevalent.
Reclaimed is an ambitious album from an artist dedicated to her music. Yet as debut albums go, it feels homely and at ease with itself. Exuding confidence on each of the eleven tracks, nothing feels forced or deliberately aimed at provocation.
The name itself stands as a wonderfully ambiguous statement of intent. Following the album’s overall narrative of a woman coming to terms with the complexities of life and finally finding it. It also serves as Latham’s intention, battle cry if you will, to stamp her mark on the folk and soul scenes, her debut album acting as her first onslaught.
In a musical industry dominated by fledgling, three-minute pop starlets, Louise Latham is a wonderfully adult breath of fresh air. Reclaimed is not just a debut album. It is the first of what will hopefully be the changing face of current trends as everybody grows up a little and recovers their musical integrity.
I have seen her perform @ The Blackheath Halls, London, a couple of weeks ago, just Mezmerising!
I hope justice serves her right and like you state, its all about musical integrity. Good luck Louise.