Patricia De Mayo – The Apricot Tree
Self Released – Out Now
Patricia De Mayo is one of the rarest of performers, virtually unknown, yet a truly remarkable performer whose latest album, The Apricot Tree, resonates in ways many seasoned artists can only hope to achieve. While her chief instrument is the Arabic lute, she also plays the bass guitar and a variety of percussion instruments, all of which come into play on her album.
Treesong may sound like the kind of folk that Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention may have concocted, yet the layers of oud take this song into another realm altogether. Her passion takes Apricot Tree to another level. The song, layered with lute, bass, and vocals is a fascinating display of her ability to transform traditional-sounding pieces into something much more contemporary.
The piano at the heart of 2000 Miles melds with bass, yet there are an array of other sounds in the background. A mystical tale of a woman who walks 2000 miles in seven days, the woman is a mystery to those around her. The soundscape of Why Don’t You Talk To Me features a number of phased effects and found voices before taking on a vaguely middle-eastern groove. The voices build but don’t really become discernable, creating something both fascinating and slightly unsettling.
A wooden flute opens The Nightingale, with the oud coming to the fore as De Mayo questions what the nightingale has seen during her day. As she questions the bird, it replies, “Oh I heard the sound of a thousand stars, and then a deep silence covered the mountains and the sea.” Closing with the flute, the song takes on a tone, not unlike the early days of Traffic with Chris Wood.
Even more fascinating is the way that she shifts from the middle English of Miller’s Song to vocals of Sovay, the Female Highwayman. The shift to a female highwayman offers a refreshing twist on the tale. Closing with Farewell, De Mayo places the Arabic lute front and centre while the sounds of the wind offer a sense of finality.
One of the most remarkable aspects of The Apricot Tree is how good the album sounds sonically. Instruments ring true and clear with a sense of tone not often heard on albums by performers with larger budgets. Patricia De Mayo has truly created an album that puts her songs to the fore, creating music both rich in tone and lyrical beauty.
http://www.patriciademayo.com/