The Wainwright bloodline has thrown up some of the best USA singer/songwriter talent to emerge in recent years. Martha Wainwright is the latest in that glorious bloodline, and arguably the most interesting. This four-song E.P. is the prelude to a full album penned for release next year. At Shakenstir our philosophy has always been to cover and talk about artists we regard as special. But what does ‘special’ mean? One of the UK’s most experienced music critics last year described Johnny Cash as having a questionable singing voice but praised the album to hell. Great music is about communication and there’s no doubt in my mind that Cash was a fine communicator, with a voice that had ball-grabbing quality, a compelling quality. But that’s only part of the story. He covered and wrote great songs, as was illustrated with his last studio album (that I believe will come to be regarded as a classic recording). Time and time again in our album reviews of the very best the words ‘distinction’ and ‘original’ crop up. The words ‘melody’ and ‘lyrical quality’ also feature heavily along with the word, ‘emotional’. In describing Martha Wainwright’s E.P. all these words are highly relevant, to describe a very special and original alt-country talent.

My only complaint with this recording is that it’s too bloody short! In fact it’s basically a single, but what a single… The title track opens proceedings and it only takes a matter of seconds to realise that this lady is one hell of an artistic package. The bold opening acoustic guitar chords introduce one of the most distinctive voices I’ve heard in years. Vocal intonations are compelling, the melody is striking, the lyrics honest and deeply personal. Put simply, the singer and song blew me away. The next track, Will Internalize, almost moved me to tears with its soulful and sincere ambience. The guitar plays a relentless, deathly strum while Wainwright gives a vocal performance of such beauty that I have to play it several times, as if pinching myself to confirm that I’m actually still of this earth and not yet in reviewers’ heaven. It’s a voice with a direct channel from the heart and one of the finest vocal performances I have ever heard on record in recent years. It’s not a conventional voice; it’s not a technically perfect voice; but its expression, conviction and power are overwhelming.

It’s Over then follows with a vocal explosion at the starting gate that had me reeling. The guitar hangs like a storm cloud above it in a song and ambience that is totally and utterly original. The record ends with jaunty folk ballad How Soon featuring a honky-tonk style piano and fronted by a more conventional vocal. But even here, Wainwright manages to take a traditional format and squeeze it dry.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve played this little record in the last twenty-four hours. But I can tell you that I’ve played nothing else. Wainwright is different, and one of the best new singer/songwriters to emerge in recent years. Buy this and I think you’ll understand where I’m coming from, and why I can’t wait for the full-length album.

5/5