Saskia Griffiths-Moore – Ocean of Stars
Self-Released – 3 March 2019
One of the most impressive things about Saskia Griffiths-Moore – aside from her elegant songwriting and crystal-clear vocals – is her sheer hard work and determination. Now aged 26, she quit a potentially-lucrative job as a craniosacral therapist in Harley Street back in 2014 to pursue her dream of being a professional singer-songwriter. (Hey, it worked!)
Since then she has toured extensively, released her debut album, a live album, a single and an EP. Which has led to TV appearances, plenty of radio play and the respect of fellow performers, audiences and critics alike. Between tours and releases, she often goes busking – back to where she started as a street performer. Her second album, Ocean of Stars, is more stripped-back than her first. Which brings her compelling and comforting songs to the fore as well as her personality and inscrutable worldview.
The 10 songs (plus a cheeky 90s retro hidden track at the end) showcase Saskia’s full range from the opening folk rock, through indie, country, pop and a bit of rock. All the songs are written or co-written by Saskia (two co-credits from Clive Gray), apart from the traditional Water is Wide, which has a stately piano arrangement from Ali Petrie. Phil Beer from Show of Hands, who knows a thing or two about modern arrangements of traditional songs, describes Water is Wide as ‘a great new version,’ that highlights Saskia’s, ‘…excellent voice and interpretive skills.’
But it is Saskia’s original material that really shines on this album. Seemingly simple and cosy at first, one of the stand-out tracks is These Hours (the video for which Folk Radio premiered a few weeks back). It’s a paean to friendship which may sound mundane, but is, in fact, a celebration of those like-minded souls who we share precious little moments with, and probably ought to appreciate and acknowledge a little more.
Saskia often tours as a trio with Lukas Drinkwater and Jack Cookson, so it’s great that one track showcases the chemistry between these fine musicians (alongside the aforementioned Ali and Calum). Telecaster Blue is a love song to Fender’s finest (sorry, Strat fans) with brilliant Richard Thompson-esque guitar licks from Mr Cookson played – appropriately enough – on a blue Tele donated by a fan. The guitar that’s the centre of the singer’s affections (‘Telecaster blue, how I’m in love with you’) may be a metaphor for someone or something but Saskia’s not letting on…
Lukas’s bowed and plucked double bass add a touch of Jacob & Drinkwater magic to the title track. Ocean and Stars is a song that cuts to the heart of Sakia’s lyrical obsessions: ordinary but precious everyday life in the context of a mysterious and magnificent cosmos, where we are but blips in eternity but can shine bright as the heavens.
It’s an album that solidly consolidates the success of her debut, but digs a little deeper on the way. And as much as I love the stellar and sympathetic backing musicians, it is Saskia alone with her guitar on Night and Day (an acoustic reading of the title track of her first album) that left the most lasting impression on this listener. Spine-tingling and a touch inscrutable. This is an album with mysteries worth investigating.
Order Ocean Of Stars via her website here: Saskiagm.com
Photo Credit: Muphovi