The Wainwright Sisters- “Songs In The Dark”
Half sisters Martha Wainwright and Lucy Wainwright-Roche released this week, one of my most anticipated albums of the year. Needless to say I was not disappointed. Although, I will still say, as it’s my job.
The album’s title reveals all about this new album from the Wainwright sisters that was recorded at a family cabin in Quebec.
Consisting of two incredible singing sisters of Canadian folk music royalty, (both are fathered by Loudon Wainwright III), this 16 song album has been described as, dark mysterious and beautiful. The description fits it to a T.
Consisting mostly of sullen lullabies that were written to be sung to babies, but actually are much more appropriate for an adult audience, this set contains a mix of the classic and family penned tunes.
Separately the sisters have their own distinct style of singing, however when harmonizing together, they are nothing short of mesmerizing.
The Jimmie Rodgers stark classic “Prairie Lullaby” starts off the album perfectly. “A song I’ve heard many times as my dad was a huge Rodgers fan. “Hobo’s Lullaby”, a Woody Guthrie beauty is chillingly sung by Martha and Lucy.
“Our Mother The Mountain” written by Townes Van Zandt and sung beautifully by Martha and Lucy, is one of those songs that will go back in time and haunt your childhood memories.
The great Richard Thompson dark lullaby “End Of The Rainbow”, illustrates perfectly the overall mood of the album. Imagine singing this to your child with the lyrics “There’s nothing at the end of the rainbow, there’s nothing to grow up for anymore”. Yikes, harsh.
“Do You Love An Apple” has to be one of the strangest, and yet, one of the most wonderful songs ever. The “Baby Rocking Medley” busts out the Wainwright humour and features a brilliant spoken word segment from Martha that is priceless. Describing how to sing a hostile baby rocking song makes me fear for safety for any offspring of these two.
I enjoyed this album very much, and one I can best describe as being beautifully dark, gloomy, sullen, brooding, ok, you get the thesaurus message. Pick it up and sing these songs to your babies, on second thought, maybe just give a listen.
