Emily Smith - Travailler's Joy

  by Lisa Torem

published: 28 / 1 / 2011

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Review

“If adventures do not befall a young lady in her own village, she must seek them abroad” - Jane Austen. This phrase is indented into the CD casing of singer/arranger Emily Smith’s 'Traiveller’s Joy'. The Scottish singer takes the statement to heart in every way. It is a stunning collection with instrumentals provided by Jamie McClennan on guitar and fiddle, James Fagan on bouzouki and Alan Doherty on flutes and whistles, just to name a few. Smith has a glorious, crystal-clear voice which would lend itself well to any kind of heartfelt music, but she has combined her love and appreciation for traditional Scottish music with her natural abilities, for this project, and that makes it irresistible. Producer Jamie McClennan has served as her right-hand man, as well, and the arrangements are simple, but superb. Smith plays piano on the plaintive Richard Thompson cover, ‘Waltzing’s For Dreamers’ and the combination of those genius lyrics: “They say love’s for gamblers, the pendulum swings/I bet hard on love and I lost everything…”, Smith’s light pianistic touch and lilting voice create a transformational experience. Smith also performs her own ‘Dreams and Lullabies’, which tells the story of parallel lives succinctly and with gravitas and the tender, metaphorical ‘Butterfly.’ The introductions, which are typed above each song in the lyric booklet, completely transform you to another place, as well. For example, ‘Roll on Lovely Doon’ (lyrics; Robert Hettrick) was inspired by ‘Hettrick’s Poems and Songs’ – he was a poet from Ayrshire - and the traditional writings that strongly signify a sense of place move the story along in dramatic, slow motion. The sense of the Scottish lands pours through each verse; “Roll on lovely Doon/All amang the green valleys/The fields which I used to adore/I will wander beside you…” ‘Gypsy Davy’ tells a love story about a woman daring to marry beneath her rank. Delightful passages written in Scottish Celtic (a glossary of terms is listed in the lyric booklet) adorn several verses. Traditional songs like ‘What A Voice’ and ‘Lord Donald’ document rural life and love. The title song, ‘Traiveller’s Joy’ was based on the work of another Scottish poet, Helen Fullerton, who observed unrequited love in a cookhouse. The term “traiveller’s joy” referred to a girl who is a wild flower. Culturally and sonically, Traiveller’s Joy is priceless. Emily Smith’s voice has the texture of a floating angel and the conviction of a desperate siren who won’t give up until you heed her call of arms.

Track Listing:-

1 Traiveller's Joy
2 Take You Home
3 Dreams And Lullabies
4 Sweet Lover Of Mine
5 Still We Dance On
6 Butterfly
7 Waltzings For Dreamers
8 Roll On Lovely Doon
9 Gypsy Davy
10 Lord Donald
11 Somewhere Along The Road
12 What A Voice

Have a Listen:-