aaamusic | On 13, Jun 2010

The acclaimed songwriter Mary Gauthier releases her 6^th album ‘The Foundling’ on Proper Records in the UK.

This album is about abandon: “I was born to an unwed mother in 1962 and adopted shortly thereafter,” Mary Gauthier explains. “When I was 45 years old, I searched for, found and was denied a meeting with my birth mother. She couldn’t afford to re-open the wound she’d carried her whole life, the wound of surrendering a baby. The Foundling is my story.” The resulting album is the acclaimed songwriter’s intensely personal exploration into her experience and her subsequent search for meaning and identity.

Produced in Toronto by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies, The Foundling has guest musicians included Michael Timmins, fellow Cowboy Junkie Margo Timmins and Garth Hudson.
The result is a country – folk album, influenced by Johnny Cash and tradition of Louisiana musicians.

The first two tracks are break-up acoustic ballads (The Foundling and Mama Here, Mama gone), while Goodbye reveals the country sounds produced by banjo and violins.

Sideshow is more jazzy supported by woodwinds and a great violin solo, Mary’s vocals are rough showing a background of desperation.

After the short Interlude 1, Blood is blood is a little jewel, Mary sings with passion her desire to know who she is, the violin riff is so heartbreaking as her feelings.

March 11 1962 is Mary’s birthday and this song id about her abandoning by her mother and her adoption, it’s a beautiful strong ballad in which strings oppose to guitars’ harshness .

Walk in the water is another moment of simply beauty, followed by the accordion-tune Interlude 2.

Sweet words is another struggling ballad, so as The Orphan King, they are very minimal, only voice, some backing vocals, guitars and violins, to create a very painful atmosphere.

Another day borrowed is the praiseworthy end for a cathartic album that shows no bitterness, only the will to be loved and go on making music.

An incredible album, highly recommended.

Author: Roberta Capuano