Nancy Elizabeth - I Used to Try

  by Malcolm Carter

published: 21 / 9 / 2007

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Review

Being hailed as Lancashire’s answer to Joanna Newsom is a heavy thing to carry but thankfully it’s not an entirely accurate description. Multi-instrumentalist Nancy Elizabeth does mine the same ancient folk music seam that Newsom does without a doubt but Nancy's vocals are more accessible; rather than initially appealing to a cult audience before being more widely accepted like Newsom the chances are that for anyone who loved the female folk singers of the sixties and seventies like Vashti Bunyan, Anne Briggs and Shelagh McDonald, Nancy Elizabeth is going to be a welcome addition to the recent invasion of female singer/songwriters. Nancy has enough of her own vision and musical ideas to raise her above many of her contemporaries. Using a dulcimer and minimal but effective percussion on ‘I Used To Try’ alone makes the song more than just another attempt to jump on the ‘new folk’ bandwagon. Nancy harmonising on the chorus is another indication that this female deserves more than passing attention. ‘I Used To Try’ is a particularly strong taster for the forthcoming album ‘Battle And Victory’. The second song on this limited edition single, ‘In The Morning’ is exclusive to this issue and won’t be on the album. Just Nancy’s vocals and piano it shows a starker side to this singer and while the song is not as strong as ‘I Used To try’ it is nevertheless more than just a throw away b-side with Nancy proving that vocally she really is one to watch. The song gives that feeling that it is over too soon, at just over 2 minutes it leaves you wanting more of the same. Just as a taster for the album should. For those who are fans of Newsom, Bunyan and even Beth Orton then Nancy Elizabeth is well worth checking out.

Track Listing:-

1 I Used To Try
2 In The Morning

Band Links:-

http://nancyelizabeth.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/nancybeep/
https://twitter.com/nancynancybeep

Label Links:-

http://www.theleaflabel.com/en/index.p
https://www.facebook.com/theleaflabel
https://twitter.com/theleaflabel
https://www.youtube.com/user/theleafla
https://plus.google.com/10909849748304