A North Country Lass [CD]

Followers of Lesley have known for some time that Lesley is still developing her voice by moving into different adjacent genres. After all, she still has weekly singing lessons with the formidable Joy Mammen. Together they study each new song in detail and develop a style to suit both the song and Lesley's voice. Her brilliant technique allows her tackle areas that her fellow sopranos steer clear of. Her fellow music professionals are well aware of this and are eager to help. Fans remember how a few years ago Sir George Martin leapt at the opportunity to select and arrange Beetles' songs for her.

Now Lesley has tackled at the genre of "British Folk Songs". Her performance of "Lagan Love" on her "The Singer" album showed what could be possible. (It was labelled "the best she's done" by her conductor, Philip Ellis, adding "it's the only one on the album I had nothing to do with".). Reunited with producer James Fitzpatrick, they approached a selection of arrangers to select a folk song and tailor it to Lesley's voice. Chief among them was Paul Bateman who also conducted the orchestra, and had worked with Lesley before. Devotees will remember his brilliant arrangement of "Silent Night".

The results are staggering. It is not a case of effectively the same song on every track. The only similarities are that they are all British Folk Songs arranged for a world-class soprano. It is difficult to pick out individual tracks without feeling the others are just as brilliant. I have played it several times now, and still my favourite is the track I am listening to. Pressed I might pick "All Around My Hat" because I found myself singing it whilst boiling a kettle. But them when I compare it with each of the other 15 in turn I find reasons to equally prefer them.

But... This album does not fill the hole in her recorded repertoire when compared with her performing repertoire. That is her performing with minimalist accompaniment, such as just a single piano. The only example is her "Top Of The Pops" hit, Schubert's "Ava Maria" accompanied by Amanda Thompson. Otherwise the nearest is "Lagan Love", accompanied by Uilleann pipes and Didgeridoo. Her repertoire is expanding with Emma Johnson & Andrew West finding and arranging songs for Clarinet, Piano & Voice. Perhaps this will be her next album. Fans will eagerly wait for it. Based on this experience they will not be disappointed.

Absolutely brilliant album - some real favourites in here and I can sing along to them all too. I've always loved Lesley Garrett and was worried when I heard this was folk songs but this is such an amazing sound you can't fail to love it.

Fans have been eagerly awaiting this album because Lesley shared her thoughts with them during the months of its development and production. They will not be disappointed. It is a fantastic as they hoped.

Lesley is constantly expanding her repertoire and developing her voice to match. The weekly singing lessons she still has with her Royal Academy tutor are still paying off.

In this album she has gone into UK folk music in big way. She has got a group of experts to arrange their favourite songs to match her voice. They have taken advantage of vocal talents she has to great advantage. Some we already knew are up to the task. Julian Kershaw and Paul Bateman for example. They have worked their magic with Lesley before. Others may not have done but they have done their homework. All to brilliant effect.

It seems unfair to pick on some of the tracks because all 16 are excellent. Perhaps On Ilkley Moor Baht at stands out because the Black Dyke band supporting her Alternatively the welsh lullaby Suo Gan because it shows Lesley does quiet as well as she does loud. Then again Robbie Burns My Love is Like a Red Red Rose is an example of her brilliant diction. Possibly a slightly poorer track is Pastime with Good Company but only because King Henry VIII was not as good a composer as some of the anonymous people who wrote the others.

One point to note. Some Lesley albums should not be played using shuffle. The Singer in particular. This album can. In fact everyone can have fun finding out what order they like best.

Now Lesley has done Folk Songs. So what next for the Diva? Apparently she is returning to Opera in La Voix Humaine by Poulenc. This single person single act opera is 45 minutes long. How about a recording of a live performance?