Hold on to Me
Marie Goudy’s Paloma Sky
Independent (mariegoudy.bandcamp.com/album/hold-on-to-me)
Debut recordings can be haphazard; a slew of disparate ideas held by a slender thread and nary a cohesive theme. But certainly not Hold On To Me, a beautifully crafted vivid love letter, as if written from one character to another, where both characters come alive. It is no matter that there are subplots with secondary characters entering the landscape, it makes for a brightly coloured and multi textural soundscape.
There may be more viscerally exciting contemporary ensembles around, who write and perform more daringly imaginative original work. But in Paloma Sky the wonderful Marie Goudy (vocals, trumpet, compositions) leads a group of musicians who are unfailingly musical. And where others may dazzle with gratuitous pyrotechnics Paloma Sky replaces such musical egotism with compelling narrative performed with deeply lyrical intensity.
Goudy leads with poetics redolent of exquisitely sculpted phrases, often rendered in molten curved shapes. The basis for all of this are her compositions themselves, which radiate heat from characters who are cast in the slow burn of emotional warmth. Vocalist Jocelyn Barth makes these stories come alive as if she has lived them herself. She and Goudy give thoughtful interpretations that allow the space for musicians – pianist Stu Harrison, bassist Nick Arsenault, drummer Andrew Scott (and saxophonist Alison Young on Mexico) – to excavate rich details of articulation and tone colour. The producing hand of the celebrated Elizabeth Shepherd is felt everywhere.
