Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *

The sound of the pastoral is always one in which to relish, the easy nature of birdsong and the whispering of meadows rustling their future wares to the keen ear of the passerby is always one that should leave that person feeling blessed, understanding the delicate relationship between nature and humanity is not one easily taken care of but one that should be seen as a privilege to have. Music has the same strands of D.N.A. within it, the same whisper to the audience that must be taken care of to the mutual benefit of both listener and those that supply the soft voiced pastoral.

For Meadowlark the sound of the Pastoral is essential, it is the sound of honesty, of truth and beguiling beauty, it is the passion of both Kate McGill and Daniel Broadley which shines through with absolution; the whisper of their craft coming over in such a way that to dismiss it as the ghostly wails of the past, of a Britain long since disregarded as the chains of towns and grey buildings loom ever larger on the horizon, is to eventually tear down the respect of a genre which is both subtly handsome and generous in its gift.

Meadowlark’s Kate McGill and Daniel Broadley’s E.P. Nocturnes is the antithesis to that disregard showered by people without a sense of proportion to the beauty in the Pastoral. The sound is clean, full of maturity and vigour; it is the honour of seeing the unpolluted meandering river giving life to all it nurtures and not the stained and contaminated stream which fills with disease and disdain.

Nocturnes selection of songs, Headlights, Satellite, Eyes Wide and a rather marvellous cover of the Sugababes’ About You Now are clean, they have a sense of gentleness surrounding them and all four flow as easily as a river making its way through the British countryside, the land surrounding them may be one of hostile intent but it cannot put scorn upon the music that is made.

A rare gift, the folk scene is always blessed with such talent but rarely does it sing as beautiful as Meadowlark’s Nocturnes.

Ian D. Hall