Hermione is the late Christie Hennessy’s daughter and former musical collaborator, and with Songs My Father Taught Me, she pays an emotional tribute to the man who actively encouraged her to record it. Not only does it serve as a significant monument to the influence her father played in her own life and music, but it also confirms Hermione as a quality solo artist in her own right, for whom a bright future is almost a given. The two duet poignantly on Christie’s own ‘Soho Square’ while she brings a gentle undercurrent to his gorgeous ‘Oh Jealous Heart’ .
With ‘The Edge Of The Moon’ she proves that she may be a worthy heir to his songwriting mantle too, while elsewhere she breathes fresh energy into songs like Iris Dement’s ‘When I Was Young’, Carole King’s ‘Way Over Yonder’, on which her voice is reminiscent of Frances Black, and Aimee Mann’s ‘Wise Up’. As if to reinforce the fact that her influences stretch beyond the predictable, she also turns in a sparkling version of the Crowded House hit ‘Fall At Your Feet’. Songs My Father Taught Me benefits also from the sensitive production of Tim Ross who steers the project with a firm but nuanced touch.
KEY TRACK: FALL AT YOUR FEET