Short Reviews [Cary Grace - 2020 - "Lady of Turquoise"]

At the beginning of 2020 Cary returned with her latest album, another double CD set of more than an hour and a half long. All of those involved with her performance at Kozfest 2016 are here, along with John Garden who has played on a number of her other albums, as well as some additional musicians. Most of these musicians only play on a few songs, with her ever-present rhythm section of Andy Budge and David Payne being the exception, as Cary lists herself as providing vocals, synthesizers, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, organ, sampling, sequencing, electronics, and sound effects. Again, we have an incredibly diverse album, but as with her last studio album, 2015’s excellent ‘Tygerland’, I find myself being reminded again of Patti Smith due to her use of words. Just sit back and let the words of “Afterglow” just wash over you and take you into a new world which is intriguing and somewhat dark. There is very little rush to the album, and far more concentration on her wonderful vocals. “Film Noir” is a wonderful example of a song where there is a lot happening in the background, but it is restrained and all directed to having the listener concentrate on the vocals and the words as Cary searches for a love which is black and white. The album is more psychedelic than the others, and less space rock, yet there is always time for both as Cary again creates a wonderfully majestic world. She is perfectly capable of recording an album on her own yet brings in other people to become part of the overall process. She told me she enjoys “putting people together who wouldn’t have come together otherwise. Sometimes disastrous, but sometimes sublime.” There is not much disaster on here, but there is indeed very much the feeling of an artist in total control and with nothing to prove to anyone. This is her eighth studio release, and still she challenges herself and her listeners, with songs like “Costume Jewellery” which almost becomes like a drone at parts, but hang on, there are some rather unusual acoustic instruments in the background which surely don’t deserve to be there. Wait, there is a violin back there as well, what is going on? The drums have gone almost tribal, the electric guitar is staccato and poignant, the world is disappearing, I’m falling into a void… Cary is one of the most exciting, interesting, and innovative performers around, and I love everything I have heard of hers so far. Long may she continue to keep pushing the boundaries.