Special Edition Album, ‘PHANTOM LIMB’ Released on Naim Edge on 9 November 2009

“A seamless amalgam of classic, southern soul, country blues and gospel, intelligent music-making with impeccably high standards. Few bands can can boast a vocalist of the quality of Yolanda Quartey - a mix of Etta James, Aretha Franklin and Mavis Staples.”

“Formed after an impromptu Christmas jamming session in 2004, the band’s future crashed to a halt in 2006 when illness forced Yolanda to stop singing. The album (and the band) stayed on ice for over six months while she recovered her voice after which it seemed a good idea to start quietly with  acoustic rehearsals. These proved revelatory as a more intimate yet powerful sound emerged. Electric guitars were swapped for acoustics, double bass was brought in and, with Yolanda’s voice allowed to soar, beautiful country-gospel songs emerged. The recording process began all over again and Phantom Limb was reborn.”

That’s the background to this Bristol country-soul sextet and the band’s debut album. As I’ve stated severel times before, 2009 has been a magical album release year, notable for the quality and diversity of music released. This album adds to that diversity. It opens with a mournful slice of country soul in the slowly meandering, thoughtful and tuneful ‘Don’t Say A Word.’ While the pace remains intact, instruments, gospel harmonies and the magical lead vocal gradually build to a subtle crescendo (helped by some glorious piano moments towards the end) of what is one of the standout tracks on the album. A mellow acoustic guitar and tumbling keyboard notes introduce another superb country song, ‘Withering Bones.’ While the instrumental arrangement is superb and the melody is of monstrous proportions, it is Quartey’s voice that dominates as it dives and soars seamlessly and expressively. Later in the song everything is thrown into the melting pot as it builds to a crashing conclusion. Wonderful! ‘I’ll Never Be The Same Again’ changes generic tack as it sails down a rhtyhm and blues route with driving bass rhythm and wandering piano notes. Again the song builds to crashing choruses as Quartey really belts lets fly - I imagine her heading a choir in one of those Southern churches and literally raising the roof in front of a sea of waiving arms and God-fearing voices. Tremendous!

‘My Love Has Gone’moves along slowly like a road train negotiating mountain bends. The song is  a mix of country and gospel with glorious instrumental passages aided by a compelling solo and group vocal harmonies. The song ends and then is straight into the wistful, contemplative and beautiful tones of yet another standout track, ‘Playing With Death.’ Lone piano and guitar accompany the most expressive and passionate vocal on the album - hell, I think this is my favourite song here. ‘Run’opens in quiet mode before opening up with heavily plucked guitar and a voice which is vintage country complete with that typical country twang. ‘Good Fortune’ is a beautiful love narrative with guitar gently humming in the background under a vocal that weaves the most magical of spells. ‘We Will Carry’and ‘Spring Flowers’  offer the same languid, contemplative vibe before the upbeat ‘Draw The Line’ explodes into existence with truckloads of melody and driving performances by the band and its singer. This is the first single which is released on the 5th October, and given airplay should fly. ‘The Hard Way’ completes the album in soulful style with some of the powerful choruses on the album. The outro will blow you away!

This album has everything - superb instrumental performances, beautiful production, great songs, diverse sounds and one of the most exciting female vocalists I’ve heard in a while. There’s also rare quality and sophistication, and yet it’s an album that is so totally accessible. Just buy it!

4.5/5