Search - Alison Statton & Spike :: Shady Tree

Alison Statton's beautiful Shady Tree.

George T. Parsons | Nevada City, CA | 05/14/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From 1997, Alison reunites with bassist Phil Moxham from her days with Young Marble Giants, and Spike on guitar and strings, whom she collaborated with in the jazzy cool Weekend. Though her previous work is deservedly canonized, I've never heard her sound better than she does here, performing fourteen songs she and Spike composed. Still profoundly understated, but all the mutedly beautiful colors are there, not so surprisingly working as an extension of her YMG and Weekend work, but far cooler in tone and much more experimental. Several tracks recall Anna Domino's starkly melodic synthpop of the early 80's, but this is a more down to earth creation than Anna's sweet pop dreams, almost toylike simplicity blends with ancient folk roots and a sky high art-pop vision. Special note should be made of the contribution Dale Reynolds makes on Telyn, an amazing sounding Welsh harp, that can sound butterfly delicate or orchestrally vast, and works as a wonderful counterpoint to the bass, voice, guitar and synth. Also street ambience, birds songs, a palette of watercolored rainy day magic and a sense of real grace. This is a perfect record, mysterious, deep, and infinitely rewarding."