Ambience and intrinsically subtle guitar playing are the traits Katie Spencer exudes on a listener delving deep into her mystique. Inspired by diverse surroundings as intimated in the title, the music of this East Yorkshire-raised musician invokes wonderful imagery in the minds of others. Such a mindful release and pull into the world of serene motion is awash across the boughs of her new album. THE EDGE OF THE LAND is the atmospheric second full Katie Spencer release, hot on the heels of her 2021 project of reinterpreting the music of one of her idols, John Martyn.
That short EP of covers featured Spencer Cozens, a Martyn accomplice, and he figures again on the record adding Steinway piano and keys, alongside co-producing the album. The full team assembled here is a tightknit one with one stark musical addition of Nathan Bray's flugelhorn adorning the gloriously seductive track 'Silence on the Hillside'. The brass faintly punctuates the wealth of guitar artistry and is highly pleasing to the ear.
The ten tracks forming the content consist of eight Katie Spencer-penned songs and a similarly composed instrumental spanning the central part of the record. The odd song out of origin is a cover of Anne Briggs' 'Go Your Way'. The merits of this insertion are likely debated in folk circles, but this doesn't detract from the fact that Katie Spencer is a very fine songwriter as well as interpreter.
Although side tracked like so many artists, you felt it wouldn't be too long before she cleared the decks, raised the funding to record and ultimately hit the road. A patient audience would no doubt wait and hopefully increase in greater numbers in light of positive movements.
The music of Katie Spencer is obviously a shared experience at her enticing shows, but away from venues, sitting alone and blanking out the real world is a perfect setting for letting it weave its artistry. Flagship songs help promote an album and the aforementioned brass-infused track serves a purpose even if it wasn't one of the three released singles. However Katie Spencer doesn't seek to place her songs in a pecking order, instead nailing the art of a continual flow of princely spun songs, sung with a long folky drawl that immerses the vocals in the searching lyrics.
Two EPs and two LPS present a strong base for Katie Spencer to carry forward a likely mission of courting folks and industry luminaries alike. Not with any posturing or hollow words, just the beauty of her music. EDGE OF THE LAND will thrill existing fans as it captures her evolving trademark sound. More importantly it is soaked in the potential to grow a fanbase. The lifeblood of any aspiring commercial musician.
