Ebony Lamb: Ebony Lamb (Slow Time/digital outlets)

Elsewhere readers will be familiar with the name: Ebony Lamb was formerly of the long-running indie.folk/alt.country outfit Eb and Sparrow whose albums we have reviewed

 (and she answered an Elsewhere Questionnaire some while back).

She was a recent long-list finalist in the Silver Scrolls – for last year’s Take My Hands at Night –and has developed into a mature solo artist with languidly weary songs (the seductive Come Put A Record On), hypnotic folk-pop (Salt Sand Sea, the country-flavoured Midnight is My Name) and some late-night listening (Take My Hands at Night).

A respected photographer (Phoenix Foundation's Friend Ship cover among others), she has an eye for impressionistic observation: “See them all come at the downtown mall Friday night, she's coming to a crawl, two-toned yellow. Orwell's pen, sinner and the thief, at it again” on My Daughter My Sister My Son.

Elsewhere always feel that artists who release a self-titled album a little into their career (like Mermaidens recently, the Beatles way back) are announcing a new step. This album certainly feels like that. 

On Nadia Reid’s Slow Time label, recorded with Bic Runga, Kody Nielson and collaborator/partner Gram Antler (Jason Johnson, of Ed and Sparrow now in Pashtag), Ebony Lamb's debut under her own name offers crafted, adult reflection and musical sophistication.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here