Maggie’s Wake
Self-Released, 2024
8/10
The debut album from the London, Ontario folk outfit Maggie’s Wake, the 13 songs here from Tara Dunphy, Lindsay Schindler, Ken Edward Palmer, Andrew Kosty, Dean Harrison and Stephan Szezesniak also welcomes a few guests for the timeless spirit.
The warm acoustic strumming of “Maid Of Fortune” starts the listen with Schindler’s stirring fiddle and Dunphy’s lively banjo making for a very melodic climate, and “Adaptation” follows with Kyle Waymouth’s intricate guitar complementing the Celtic nods of the lush delivery.
Deeper into the listen, the playful and punchy “Grosse Isle (Far Away)” uses Szezesniak’s crisp drumming amid Dunphy’s expressive storytelling, while “Dochas” gets intimate via Harrison’s flowing piano and Dunphy’s dreamy flute that emits much beauty in the instrumental track.
Arriving near the end, the rhythmic and stylish “Shaken & Stirred” makes great use of Andrew Kosty’s playful bass lines, and “Bye For Now” exits with poetic fiddle that tug on the heartstrings.
A highly diverse version of modern folk, the Irish and Cajun influences won’t go unnoticed, as Maggie’s Wake make for a harmonic, textured and memorable first effort.
Travels well with: Andrew VanNorstrand- That We Could Find A Way To Be; Abigail Lapell- Anniversary