It's late summer 2022 and a young singer-songwriter takes to the stage at Moseley Folk and Arts Festival to open the second stage on Saturday morning. A sound erring more on the country pop side has to possess a certain oomph to catch ears at an event where edgier cultured acts parade a penchant for indie folk and Americana. From a then limited base Florence Sommerville cut a figure of promise as someone striding across invisible boundaries. Via a similar low key outing at last year's Maverick Festival, the same ears sensed an evolving process taking shape. Finding the sweet spot from your inaugural full length recording outing is a tough task. ENDLESS HORIZON is aural proof that early nous was not misguided. The leading songs landed on a precise mark; the final package unwraps as a record swathed in layers of sumptuous songwriting and a style breezing with an acute perception of exploring an horizon with self assured depth.
There is a supple dexterity to the twelve core songs on the album (some versions of the record contain four bonus acoustic tracks). They take the optimism of engaging pop country and weave in meatier aspects of seasoned maturity where musicianship and lyricism reside on a higher plane. Bookending your record with a pair of prestigious tracks cements an appetising listening interaction. ‘(I’ll Be Your) Best Broken Heart' carves a defiant pose from the lead off position, while closer 'Cut and Run' is a bounding anthem touching rare parts. If you seek one named association, the latter echoes Morgan Wade. Boosting obvious Stateside influences sits in the wishful 'California' thriving at the album's heart, and a key candidate to parade on the podium.
All the main dozen tracks are original compositions, some solo - others assisted by songwriters such as Gary Burr, Shantell Ogden and Sally Barris. Country stalwart instruments: pedal steel guitar and fiddle, feature from the early stages, hardening the music edge without letting a traditional sound override fresh overtures. The writing enters its most serious zone in 'Molasses' and emerges as an important song addressing mental abuse. Reflections are a little lighter in the catchy 'Fearless' illuminating the early phases with added mandolin.
One of the singles was the punchy 'Broken Pieces', a number depicting the album's flexible appeal. 'Boots in the Rain' has a title awash with country connotations and is a tenderer offering enacting the album's versatility. There is an added sensitivity to 'Out Where the Love Grows' sharing pride in the mid parts adorned in all the panache of iconic 90s/00s female country music. In some respect this album is an extension to a golden age where ceilings were smashed. This track slips into the nostalgic longing beauty 'Silly Little Things' laced with pop stardust whilst retaining genre integrity.
'Overton' has the daunting challenge of being nestled among the album's big hitters and thus needs to pedal harder to impress. In the overall listening sphere, it feels at home without attaining the peak. 'Forget the Water' takes us into ballad territory, an area with room for development though well within the capability of a talented artist. 'Love Me Then' completes the delightful dozen easing along with a listenable melody while residing on the album's gentler side.
ENDLESS HORIZON epitomises the zestful vitality of a fresh approach to heritage stacked music. Florence Sommerville pulls off a laudable task of reflecting her true self at a moment in time within a gift awash with listening pleasure. An ability to reach out without compromise makes this an attractive debut. An artist can do no more than conquer the present and this is achieved within the realm of music resonating with open ears. The promise of late summer 2022 has blossomed in mid summer 2025.
