aaamusic | On 17, Jun 2012

Mary Epworth is a singer songwriter whose music is influenced by traditional English folk song, 60s west coast psychedelia, and progressive rock. Think Genesis, Fairport Convention and Peter Gabriel. Since 2008, when she appeared at the Southbank Sandy Denny Tribute Concert, she’s received considerable attention.
Her debut album Dream Life is released on June 18th, 2012 through the Hand Of Glory/ADA label. It was made with multi-instrumentalist and Hand Of Glory co-owner Will Twynham.
Long Gone, with horns and a synth bass, is a positive expression of love for those who have gone away. Black Doe, originally a soft acoustic, is now a heavy drum beat complementing a banjo. It’s an odd love song about being close enough to make eye contact with wildlife in a dark and magical forest. The country rock of Heal This Dirty Soul is reminiscent of 70’s surf Beach Boys music. Sweet Boy is like an Everly Brothers duet, sad and simple but with a happy ending in Mary’s personal life.

Mary Epworth’s past involved gypsy music workshops in East Anglia. She’s a raw, fiery and adventurous talent who portrays the countryside as a playground through kaleidoscopic pagan folk. She creates incredibly warm and soulful melodies using a variety of sounds and styles. Electric autoharp, banjo and synths combine to form classic-sounding songs with a love of winding harmonies.
Sandy Denny was always going to be a hard act to follow. Mary has great potential but some will hesitate to compare her with the haunting and hypnotic beauty of Sandy Denny. But, as Sandy would sing, she’ll probably “find a friend in every place she goes.”

★★★★★

Anthony Weightman