Album Review: Featherstitch

Featherstitch is a meticulously crafted debut album with a broad range of musical styles, there is some Country, a little Dixieland, and Gospel too, but the album as a whole is best encapsulated in a single word: “Beautiful”, the whole album is full of beautiful music that is so pleasing to the ears. From the opening track Bellbird with its cool country rhythm and its upbeat message of redemption, you are struck by the serene sound of Toni Randle’s exquisite vocals. Followed by Featherstitch an astonishingly beautiful ballad with the most wonderful singing from Toni, accompanied by her partner Andy Keegan with the sweetest of harmonies.

When the track Lovelessly lifts into its chorus Toni’s vocal is very reminiscent of Karen Carpenter, with a wonderful gently swaying melody that makes you feel good. Every song has such character and emotion, in the softer ballads you can hear the delicate nuances of Toni’s voice that you almost quiver, and when the serene violin is added to the song Crippling you really feel the pain.

There are wonderful upbeat numbers like Ladders and Softhearted Anne a sweet melodic folk song which has gravity defying properties, if you close your eyes you will soon feel like your floating free. Just In Case Allelujah starts as a gentle folk standard and then bounds into a Hymn like praise, concluding with a festive Dixieland ensemble playing woodwind instruments. The album concludes with another heartfelt ballad And So It Goes with the most awesome country style electric guitar solo, and more of the sweetest harmonies set over peaceful piano, with added splashes of woodwind, to enjoy as well.

Through its nourishing melodic influence Featherstitch has the power to raise strong emotions and feelings, that in my case, just makes me feel good, a very impressive debut to say the least.