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| REVIEW & PURCHASE | ||
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NEWS & REVIEWS |
REVIEW: ROSE COUSINSWednesday, 3 March 2010Back in February Rose Cousins came calling from her small maritime town on Prince Edward Island, Canada, to our own little rugged island, and to Belfast, to transfix Auntie Annie's with nothing more than some of the most beautiful songs ever to be performed, her voice, a guitar, and her heart. Sounding somewhere in between Sarah MacLachlan, Jann Arden and Eddi Reader, Rose Cousins latest album is "The Send Off", released late last year and by her own account, the end of a long cathartic process. Inspired not least by the death of a loved one, the subject matter is intensely personal and emotional, touching on family both young and old, love, or the loss of it, longing, hope and ultimately, happiness. The opening track, "If I were The Bird", demonstrates the template for the album straight away - a key component of why I think she's made a fantastic record are the simple but superbly arranged strings, and subtle atmospheric electric guitar that don't distract from, but only enhance the beauty of Rose's voice and guitar. "White Daisies" is pure romance in 3-and-a-half minutes. "The Dancers" is a lover's ceilidh waltz at its best, and while "Celebrate" is a refreshingly humourous change of pace written for a friend's wedding, the title track, written about the funeral of a family member, is where I had to take a moment outside. Good singer-songwriters tell a story, but they also tell it with a skill and passion that transcend borders and cultures, and put you right in their shoes. Rose Cousins does this with an effortless ease. While this album is hard work emotionally, the underpinning theme is one of hope and renewal from loss, llike snowdrops in the winter. Even on the saddest songs, the meltingly lovely delivery and sincerity are as if she's holding your hand throughout, and it feels as real here in Whitehead or Bushmills as I'm sure it does in Charlottetown. This is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I can't recommend to you enough either as a listener or as an up-and-coming singer/songwriter how good Rose Cousins is, and how laying your soul on the line, coupled with rare skill and talent, can be incredibly life-affirming, moving and above all worth listening to. Drop round to RoseCousins.com and let yourself fly away for a while. |
 Rose Cousins - The Send Off 
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