Album Review: Margaret Glaspy, Echo The Diamond

A decade back, en route from Red Bluff, California to New York City, Margaret Glaspy kicked up her heels in Boston, briefly attending Berklee School of Music and hanging around the city’s legendary local folk scene. Much has happened to Glaspy since. Echo The Diamond is her third album, but its potent blend of Bostonian alternative rock and Cantabrigian folk, indicates a savvy sonic antenna. Clearly, her many seasons lingering in Beantown was time well spent.

Lead single ‘Act Natural’ channels Deal’s Breeders or Dando’s Lemonheads; yes, it is that good. You’ll be humming it after a single spin. Across Echo The Diamond, Glaspy performs a reverse leapfrog, over her somewhat experimental sophomore album back to Emotions And Math, her acclaimed debut. The New York Times succinctly described that record as possessing “an expansive sort of minimalism”, which is evolved excellently here.

Her spellbinding vocal on ‘Get Back’ matches the magnificent standard of the recent (unconnected) boygenius record. ‘I Didn’t Think So’ is Jeff Buckley-level operatic, complete with clashing guitar, patient drums and folk twang. ‘Memories’ is simply marvellous, reminiscent of the majesty of Bill Callahan – the highest of compliments.

The one-time Smog man is also recalled, alongside Carole King, on ‘People Who Talk’. Elsewhere, ‘My Eyes’ contains carats of the gold-dust sonic nicotine of Alanis Morissette. Mighty stuff.

9/10