Kentucky songwriter Joan Shelley. In case you haven’t heard this wonderful singer songwriter here. As such, I’ve almost run dry of ways to enumerate the pearly blue lush tones of her voice, the crackling force of her guitar, the spry slant of her melodies. “Over And Even” is the latest release in a series of albums and collaborations that Shelley has been part to, but this one is a gala of the finest order. The legendary Will Oldham and Nathan Salsburg show up, among others, and instead of being eclipsed, Shelley shines brighter when accompanied by such talent.
Set List
“Easy Now”
“Stay On My Shore”
“Not Over by Half”
As technology rules the sound of the day, it’s good to be reminded how powerfully a single voice can transmit deep emotion. Joan Shelley made one of the most beautiful records of the year with just her voice and two guitars. Over and Even has roots in British folk, the sort made popular by artists like Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention in the late ’60s and early ’70s — another time when the dominant music was filled with electricity and texture. The intertwined melodies Shelley and her guitar partner Nathan Salsburg (who’s had his own Tiny Desk Concert) produce are refreshing breaths of Kentucky air in a world of compressed drums and overly processed vocals.
The Fat Angel Sings 