Every so often you hear a song from a new artist you’re just
discovering for the first time that literally makes you stop in your tracks. In
2012 Emma Jane managed it with ‘Sunday
Monday Blues’ while around a year ago it was ‘Tennessee’ by Emily Baker. There is a distinct pattern occurring here
as the same experience happened recently when first listening to the track ‘Back To You’ by Maria Byrne. It was
first sampled online and in a whirlwind couple of weeks, the song has been
witnessed live as well as having the EP it came from, parachuted in for review.
This amazing song is one of six tracks to feature on Maria’s
new EP and lends it name to the record’s title BACK TO YOU. The work of Maria
was being checked out in advance of deciding who to see of the growing number
of UK based artists appearing on the pop up stages at this year’s Country to
Country Festival in London. Instantly Maria was added to this list, a decision
certainly not regretted after watching her 30 minute set at the O2.
This release is Maria’s third since she moved from her
native Ireland to London in 2008 and is definitely one to recommend to people
who like her style of music. This is very much based on a folk Americana sound
and, while this style seemed a little isolated at the O2, it is one that should
be represented at a premium country music event. Midway through her set Maria
deviated from her new material to sing the John Prine duet ‘In Spite Of Ourselves’ with Benjamin Folke Thomas, and the
legendary US songwriter is name-checked as one of her key influences.
Along with bass player and producer Karl Odlum, Benjamin
Folke Thomas features prominently on Maria’s new record which is full of
memorable tunes, flavoured by some superb string arrangements and delivered by
her soft fulfilling vocals. The previously mentioned stand out track, which for
me conjures up visions of Dolly Parton’s ‘Coat
Of Many Colours’, had its context brought to life when Maria spoke about
the emotional background of the song and how it related to her father. Checking
out the track ‘Back To You’ is
mandatory for any serious music lover.
It is tricky to split the other five tracks as they all
possess worthy merit and are delivered in a similar delectable ear pleasing
style. ‘Tennessee’ is a popular song
title and Maria’s composition (she is the writer of all six tracks) tells a tale
of a desire to meet up 4000 miles from
home in a certain state famed for its music. Gorgeous guitar work supplements the
sweet vocals on such songs as ‘Sweet
Burden’ and EP opener ‘Keep On…’.
‘Go To Sea’ has a more folk oriented
roots sound to it while this short but high quality collection ends with the
slightly more placid ‘Love Will Find You’.