The Beat Surrender

If the X-Factor involved reviewing albums then this album and it’s accompanying review would be my ‘journey’ on the show. Rather than on the show though where they try to justify that term, I actually have been on something of a journey with Situation Normal Then.

It’s the third album from former Blue Aeroplane member Hazel Winter and the first time I listened to it I wasn’t keen on it all. The vocal style didn’t particularly sit well with me and the music seemed a little awkward even for the folk style that it came across in.

By the second play of the album though I was starting to make my peace with the vocal and the tracks were coming together more cohesively. This morning at work I gave it a third spin and it’s officially now one of those albums that does reward you the more you listen to it, I like it now, I really do.

The instrumentation is actually beautifully done, with banjo’s, mandolin, flute, drums, pipes and of course guitar it sits together so well, it has a slightly dark edge to it, but shows a lighter side in the melody that had taken three listens to come out for me.

If you are willing to give it the time it’s a seductive album that will tease you with a bit of leg to start with, ply you with melody and then have you every which way it chooses before the end of the night.