Coyote
Self-Released, 2019
8/10
An esteemed Canadian treasure, Catherine MacLellan possesses a strong storytelling ability through her folk music template, and this 7th album clearly illustrates why she’s got a JUNO award to her credit.
The title track starts the listen with MacLellan’s sweet and expressive pipes against a bare setting of acoustic guitar and soft percussion, and “Roll With The Wind” follows and brings a breezy spirit of warm Americana.
In the middle, “Breath Of A Wind” displays an emotive setting of rural beauty with soothing strings, while “The Tempest” illustrates MacLellen’s flawless pipes as a fiddle complements the mood. “Night Crossing”, one of the album’s best, then places Celtic influences into her organic formula.
Near the end, “Come Back In” recruits a hint of pop in the pretty delivery and vivid imagery, and “All The Way In”, a late album highlight, recruits a gospel feel with its waltz qualities.
An extremely introspective affair, MacLellan strategically places accordions, cellos, and fiddles, among others, to help flesh out these poetic, wise and highly memorable tunes that will linger long after you turn the music off.
Travels well with: Rebecca Turner- The New Wrong Way; Susan Gibson- The Hard Stuff