Our Song of the Day is the title track from Jo Mango’s new EP ‘When We Lived In A Crook Of A Tree’ which is released tomorrow (2nd Dec) via Olive Grove. Jo’s alluring and delicate vocals weave amongst sparse melodic arrangements that cast you adrift…shadows and dream-like strands of verses inspired by Angela Carter’s Book of Fairytales create a tantalising world that you wish could continue long after the four songs have ended.
Commissioned for a special Celtic Connections show in 2012 in support of Laetitia Sadier (Stereolab) the songs of When We Lived In A Crook Of A Tree were written and recorded within a month and Jo wanted to draw on the idea of speed, to mirror the creative process of these enchanting songs. As Jo explains,
“It becomes just like a capture of fleeting moments of inspiration with a lot of fragility about them.”
One particular tale of Angela’s struck a chord with Jo: “There is a fairytale from West Africa – ‘The Girl Who Stayed in the Fork of a Tree’. I wrote all the songs based on that one tale. It’s a surreal and dark tale involving kidnap, armies of babies, evil kings, zebra-tails, talking birds and supernatural mothers. At the heart of it is a story that I think many people can relate to, about fear of the future and of having or not having children.”
When We Lived In The Crook Of A Tree:
The album is captivating, a personal reaction that I’ve found to become a commonplace response to Jo’s music over the years…that fragility she has become so expert at creating also has an incredible strength…one that many struggle to convey but she approaches as if second nature. When We Lived In A Crook Of A Tree is another gift to add to that treasured collection.
Send in the Crows
Live Dates
14th December 2013 – The Glad Cafe, Glasgow
22nd December 2013 – Christmas Songwriters’ Club The Queen’s Hall Edinburgh
26th January 2014 – Òran Mór, Glasgow: Celtic Connections – Olive Grove Records showcase