Something of a female counterpart to Ryan Adams, Thea Gilmore was hailed as the best British songwriter of the last ten years when her Avalanche debut hit the racks in 2003.
Since then the Oxford chanteuse has parted company with her record label, split with her long-term partner, seen two members of her family battle serious illness, and been diagnosed with clinical depression. All fertile ground, you might think, for a dark, introspective and depressing masterpiece.
And you’d be right. Harpo’s Ghost is peppered with a litany of dark, intense emotions. Gilmore’s skill is in making them palatable for wider public consumption. What we get then is a menacing collection of largely upbeat folk songs, underpinned by a consistently haunting tone.
The opening tune ‘The Gambler’ begins broodingly, before erupting into a chorus-call for salvation. ‘Everybody’s Numb’ continues Gilmore’s eerie opening vocal delivery, with aggression being the dominant emotion as she spits poison at – somewhat predictably – corporate America. Indeed America dominates early proceedings with ‘Red White And Black’ largely focused on the war on Iraq, while the wistful ‘Call Me Your Darling’ comes straight from the Springsteen finishing school of songwriting.
The album’s tone lifts in the second half with ‘Cheap Tricks’, Gilmore’s most commercial offering to date, breaking the haunting tone with its insanely catchy chorus. ‘Contessa’ too should prove a live favourite, demonstrating her fine knack for character-based songs.