Track Listing

1. O Love Is Teasin'
2. Willow's Song
3. Yearning
4. James
5. Hori Horo
6. Reynardine
7. Milkwhite Sheets
8. Cachel Wood
9. Beggar, Wiseman Or Thief
10. Loving Hannah
11. Are You Going To Leave Me
12. Over The Wheat & The Barley
13. Thursday's Child
14. Bird In The Wood

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #153674 in Music
• Released on: 2006-11-07
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Her second solo record, the follow-up to her Mercury Prize-nominated collaboration with Mark Lanegan, "Ballad Of The Broken Seas", finds the former Belle And Sebastian chanteuse and cellist drawing inspiration more from the various folk traditions of the British Isles than the classic country leanings of "Ballad". Still working primarily with guitarist Jim McCulloch (Soup Dragons), Isobel collaborates with James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins and Perfect Circle) and her touring band mate Eugene Kelly (Vaselines, Captain America, Eugenius).

Amazon.com
Following the success of her country-leaning collaboration with Mark Lanegan (Ballad of the Broken Seas), which earned the former Belle and Sebastian vocalist and cellist a new audience, Isobel Campbell is back the same year with a solo record that veers more in the direction of 2003's Amorino. This time, Campbell revamps half a dozen English and Scottish traditional folk songs, her delicate vocals seeming to linger beneath the lush tones and orchestral arrangements she fancies, balancing the soothing cadence that flows through her original numbers. The instrumentation seldom goes beyond an acoustic guitar and cello (though guests include ex-Smashing Pumpkin James Iha and ex-Vaseline Eugene Kelly), often inducing memories of Nick Drake ("James," "Are You Going to Leave Me") and Astrud Gilberto ("Reynardine"), with the a capella "Loving Hannah" and the nursery-rhymey "Cachel Wood" and "Beggar, Wiseman, and Thief" ranking as the true spectacles of Campbell's second extraordinary release of 2006. --Scott Holter

Customer Reviews

Am I Not Young and Fair ?
You might be asking yourself, "Does the world really need another version of "Reynardine" or "Willow's Song" ?".In the case of this wonderful record, the answer is a resounding "YES"! This album consists primarily of traditional folk songs that any fan of the genre will have heard (probably more than once) before. There is also the afforementioned version of the fantastic (oft covered) "Willow's Song" from the soundtrack to the classic original "Wicker Man" film. Though not a traditional folk song (it was written by Paul Giovanni,like most of the music from that soundtrack specifically for the movie) it fits in perfectly with the classic British folk music that makes up much of "Milk White Sheets". Isobel's originals from this recording, such as "James" (written for former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, who plays on "Thursday's Child") may well go down in music history as classics themselves. The instrumentation on this release is minimalist perfection and in that respect brings to mind a folky version of Isobel's collaboration w/ Bill Wells "Ghost of Yesterday" where she covers songs made famous by Billie Holiday. The dark, fragile beauty of "Milk White Sheets" make it the perfect musical companion to the dwindling daylight hours of the approaching Autumn & Winter months.Thanks, Belle!

Dreamy, breezy and basking in pastoral beauty.
Since her departure from Belle & Sebastian, Isobel Campbell has been busy busy busy. Whether making country tinged records with Mark Lanegan, or doing Billie Holiday covers with Bill Wells it seems that she's been searching for her voice for a while now, which in no way has kept her from producing some super pleasant music. But the release of Milk White Sheets finds Campbell feeling more at home than ever. Dreamy, breezy and basking in pastoral beauty. Offering up her own versions of a handful of traditional songs, including an absolutely stunning cover of "Willow's Song" from the original Wicker Man soundtrack, this is the Isobel Campbell we can never get enough of. You can practically feel the dew on the green grass, the air blowing through the open window, eyes gazing out into the distance. Along with her flawless voice the rich arrangements and instrumentation are really what make it one of her best outings yet. Recalls the elegance of Vashti Bunyan and Bridget St. John as well as the glazed daydreaminess of Mazzy Star and Neil Halstead. Milk White Sheets evokes such pastoral beauty, yet does it with such ease, bathing your ears in the soft breeze. Absolutely charming!

Polite - but boring
This album carries lovely tunes, and is the kind that makes great background music, perhaps to fall asleep to or to drink to and feel depressed, but ultimately, there is little that is original or interesting about it. Song for song, this album simply sucks. Isobel's voice is wan and thinnish, which works at first but becomes boring and repetative over time. The one exception here is Willow's Song, which is such a beautiful song (althought not written by her) that I was blown away. This may be my favorite song so far of the year. It is really ethereal and just takes you to another place. Download it and be done with this album.