Self-released

***1/2

New England-based singer-songwriter Erin Ash Sullivan is able to deliver, in the most subtle contours of her voice, a world of varied emotional range on this, her second album. Through her melodious soundscapes, built for deep thinking, she shapes captivating relationship narratives, ranging from the roles of a being mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, and simply being a friend. She carries these themes throughout the record; a tightly woven collection of tales from her childhood memories to letting go of her own children, as she reluctantly allows them to fly the nest. At its heart are honest, clear-eyed lyrics about the give-and-take of a lengthy marriage, both sides of break-up conflicts, fun times of playing along with her young son and fond memories of her grandparents. It could be called ‘new nostalgic’, but what comes to mind more clearly is ‘timeless.’

In Goat On A Stone Wall she consoles a partner that she did wrong, unable to actually apologise, but feeling deep regret for the harsh words said in haste. She digs into her overflowing feelings to locate understanding for the hurt inflicted, all dressed up in the rhythmic bluegrass sounds of fiddle, Dobro, banjo, and acoustic guitars. Ghost of A Thorn is a gentle end of a once passionate relationship with Erin’s sensitive vocals all wrapped up in a gorgeous arrangement of whispering steel, delicate strings, and floating harmonies. It’s a song that will tear at the heart of anyone who has had to gently explain to a loved one that it’s all over. Eat The Pie is a whimsical slice of a happy remembrance of a true story of a local pie-eating contest. Erin captures the playfulness of a schoolyard rhyme with the joyous chorus and light-hearted arrangement. Incidentally, as a Middle-schooler, Erin won the contest two years running, despite the cynicism of her peers. The message of the song is to ignore the doubters, be brave and do what makes you happy in life. The emotional flip side is the bare-knuckled I Don’t Want To Keep Score, a terrifyingly perfect break-up song, in which a couple slice each other’s hearts with intractably venomous words that lead to never going back.

There are a trio of songs that reflect on her role as a mother. Pop into Erin’s world of vibrant palettes with We Walk The Flats. While it may not strike you on first listen, the gentle panoramic song is all about a mother’s love for her son and his separation from her as he prepares to head off to college. How It Should Be is among the sparer arrangements on the record, with just a finely played acoustic guitar. The album’s shimmering highlight, Erin’s gentle prayer to her daughter, who has flown the nest, gathers warmth as the song progresses, dancing in the memories she shares about a mother’s role that’s almost done with the words: ‘You can make your way without me, that’s how it should be.’ She returns to her son with Before You Go, as the time comes to say a fond goodbye. This is a song that is as much about the joys of motherhood, as she pours out her heart about how tough it will be to let him go. Producer Doug Kwartler replicates the delicate instrumentation songwriter Erin Ash Sullivan has come to be known for, as he varies the sound and arrangements while maintaining a kind of fireside comfort and ease. 

https://www.erinashsullivan.com

July 2024