Longing For Belonging
Figureeight, 2020
9/10
Listen to Longing For Belonging
Although she may be known best as a session musician, Germany’s Zola Mennenoh brings her multi-instrumental skill to this debut solo album, where her vast experience playing jazz and avant garde choral music helps her flesh out the cultured and sophisticated tunes here.
“I Came Here To Stay” starts the listen with gentle strings as Mennenoh’s highly expressive and angelic vocals guide the very atypical folk song that uses bare percussion, and “I Disappeared Under The Sea” follows with an engaging, sparse quality that’s often hushed, and later on recruits graceful piano alongside sublime singing.
In the middle, “I Will Always Be Yours Forever” flows with a dreamy appeal as woodwinds add much to the gorgeous landscape, while “Make Things Simple” incorporates some experimental ideas as it quivers with 12 minutes of rhythmic droning.
Vocals return to the gentle acoustic guitar focused “Look For The Blue Hoodie! xx, M”, which is one of the album’s best, and “Edinburgh” exits the listen with just vocals in a seemingly spontaneous and playful finish.
An album where each track brings unpredictable surprises, there’s traces of folk, classical and jazz, as viola, piano and drums are used sparingly but effectively. Ultimately a very intimate, highly creative and beautifully delivered piece of art that those with open ears will treasure, Mennenoh’s talent appears to be boundless.
Travels well with: Annie Dressner- Coffee At The Corner Bar; Emily Barker- A Dark Murmuration Of Words