From: Pete Fyfe [petefyfe_at_aol_dot_com]

Sent: 28 May 2012 17:57

Subject: Pete Fyfe: Maz O'Connor review & sleeve

Attachments: Maz O'Connor.jpg

MAZ O'CONNOR - Upon A Stranger Shore (Demon Barber Sounds DBS005)

What a lovely voice! I just knew I was going to enjoy this album from the moment I played the first track "South Australia" which I'm more used to hearing being bellowed at volume eleven by burly shanty ?men'. Instead, Maz's controlled and never forced vocals blends so well with her accompanying musicians Matthew Jones (guitar/double bass), Joe O'Connor (melodeon), Nicola Lyons (fiddle), Jim Molyneux (percussion) and Sam Sweeney (cello) that her maturity belies her obvious youth. When you can also roll out that hoary chestnut "Leaving Of Liverpool" without it sounding clich?d then you know you've done a good job and in the process seriously impressed your dad. Personally speaking I'm really pleased that Maz has opened her solo recording career by using a majority of well established traditional songs including "Red Red Rose", "Constant Lovers" and "Caw The Yowes" because if, for some reason she chooses to rely more heavily on her own (not inconsiderable) song-writing talents ("Rambling Free" and "Songs Of Old" etc) we, the listener can at least be comfortable in the knowledge that we know where her ?roots' lay. This recording is a very impressive debut and I look forward to the next one. www.mazoconnor.co.uk

PETE FYFE