Nancy Elizabeth – Battle and Victory

…it’s safe to assume that Nancy Elizabeth sees her lineage as stretching back to Acid Troubadours the Incredible String Band or Nick Drake.

http://www.theleaflabel.com/ http://www.nancyelizabeth.co.uk/ http://www.konkurrent.nl/

Now this is something of a find. Given the absolute welter of releases by female singer songwriters, especially those of a folky persuasion, it’s easy to miss the really interesting stuff. Luckily the stylized, slightly gaudy CD cover caught our attention (see, art still plays it’s part, ipod fans).

What makes this record stand out is the "feel" of the set. It’s determined in tone, tough, grim even. Listen to the lyrics in Off With Your Axe. I can’t think of another alt-folk song about mining. And the girl can sing. The moment when Nancy Elizabeth opens her lungs in earnest on opener I’m Like Paper, or on Weakened Bow you know you’re in for something special.

I have already stated that this isn’t a winsome LP. There’s a fair bit of grit and determination on show here in the playing. Listen to I Used to Try with its strident percussion, industrious guitar strumming and stubborn lyrics. It’s spooky at times too. True there are the moments of folky flutterings (Coriander being a prime example) but sometimes the music has definite psychedelic, Oriental leanings, as if the ghost of Brian Jones has paid a visit to Miss Elizabeth’s cottage.

With that in mind it’s safe to assume that Nancy Elizabeth sees her lineage as stretching back to Acid Troubadours the Incredible String Band or Nick Drake. There’s certainly a feel of Mr Drake’s haunted soul in stuff like Electric.

A definite recommendation, I’d suggest you hunt it down without delay.

Words: Richard Foster