Sarah Nixey - Brave Tin Soldiers

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 2 / 5 / 2011

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'Brave Tin Soldiers' is Sarah Nixey's second solo album after she fronted Black Box Recorder, which also featured Luke Haines and John Moore, in the late 1990s. As a solo artist, she remains a national treasure, undiscovered by most, but to me she is almost the best there is in the U.K. Full stop. Having two young children limits her musical work so when she does release music, it is like little gifts to the world to be treasured always.'Brave Tin Soldiers' is at times soft in its delivery, but with its darker subject matter this doesn't make it easy listening at all. 'Silk Threads' opens the work and has has a lush feel to it, which, with a marching drum pace and beautiful strings, add to the beautiful words coming from Sarah's mouth. On hearing this, it just reminds me of how much we need her in our little world. 'Brave Tin Soldiers', the first single, has a vocal backed by strings. It is almost Kate Bush in territory, but, as it moves along it becomes more upbeat, in its landscape and is in complete Cinemascope by its ending. 'Cat's Cradle' is much different in its delivery, and is a sad song about a woman with Stockholm Syndrome. 'Gathering Shadows' is a murder ballad backed by soft acoustic guitar and lush strings, and Sarah's vocal on it is as soft and warm as honey. 'The Homecoming' is very slow and heartwarming, and takes you to places that are of comfort and warm. 'Love Gets Dangerous' is very upbeat and dance worthy, a song with fire in its gut, While Sarah here could take on Kylie and win, it won't happen, but it would be nice. This track is a bit like intelligent Blondie, but, with more hooks in its craft, perfect. 'Miss Sauvignon' is delivered softly, with a vocal as warm as melted honey, that you could swim in, and is absolute loveliness all around. 'Black Rose' has a delivery similar to Black Box Recorder, and was written after visiting a desolate grave stone. 'The Burial of Love' is like a long lost James Bond theme, while 'Silent Hour' is a song of sadness and tears delivered perfectly. 'Frost At Midnight' is soft and haunting, like a horror film put into words, while it story is told in a calm manner like a mother reading her child to sleep, and here she leaves us to go back to our little world, thus making our lives richer for her presence and leaving me with one of my top three albums of the year.

Track Listing:-

1 Silk Threads
2 Brave Tin Soldiers
3 Cat's Cradle
4 Gathering Shadows
5 The Homecoming
6 Love Gets Dangerous
7 Miss Sauvignon
8 Black Rose
9 The Burial Of Love
10 Silent Hour
11 Frost At Midnight

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