Meg Baird – Seasons On Earth
Meg Baird is probably better known as lead singer and founder member of cult indie folk outfit Espers. With her band on a hiatus, Baird has taken time out to record her second solo album ‘Seasons on Earth’. An acoustic affair Baird sticks with the folk but has managed to avoid the trap that most breakaway singers fall into; rather than sounding exactly like her band, the tracks here are somewhat gentler and more melancholic. I’m a big fan of folk, and indeed Espers, but the first time I heard ‘Season’s on Earth’I was driving my car and my initial impression was that it was dull and uninspiring. Fortunately I opted to give it a second chance in a quieter environment. A second listen revealed not only the full beauty of Baird’s haunting vocals but also some beautiful and delicate guitar picking and string bending that had got lost in the din of passing traffic. This certainly made the album a more satisfying listen, though with half of the 10 tracks coming in at over six minutes they felt a little long at times. Nonetheless in the right environment ‘Seasons on Earth’ is a rewarding listen. 6/10
Mark Cousens
