Isobel Campbell--Milkwhite Sheets

Coming from indie-darlings Belle & Sebastian, it’s no surprise that Isobel Campbell’s earlier solo work has raised comparisons to Camera Obscura, The Concretes, and of course, Belle & Sebastian. Coming off of her sweeping success in "Ballad of the Broken Seas," which she recorded with Mark Lanegan, Campbell releases a body of softly touching vocal work that fringes on haunting. "O Love Is Teasin'" establishes the mood for the album, setting Campbell’s voice against paper-thin instrumentals that leave the lyrics exposed and naked. "James" follows, a hauntingly peaceful instrumental track that delicately opens into the tragic "Hori Horo," a traditional folk-song that again places Campbell’s soft beautiful voice against light acoustic instrumentals. The album seems to build into the wonderful "Loving Hannah," a track that truly exposes Campbell with no instrumental accompaniment. Her voice is soft, faltering, yet strong and piercing all at once. Most of all it’s touching, forlorn, and chilling. "I’ll go down to the river / When everyone’s asleep / And think of loving Hannah / And sit down and weep," she sings, sadly and hopeless. More traditional songs like the multi-vocal tribal "Are You Going to Leave Me?" and "Reynardine" follow the same parameters, singing of lost love and lost hope in a chilling manner. Campbell is at once relaxing, thought-provoking, saddening, and in a way, uplifting. And all of this is done simply by her serene voice. Milkwhite Sheets is a breath-taking release, just don’t breath too loud. You don’t want to miss a note of this.

(Published at MusicEmissions.com)