Sarah McQuaid – Walking Into White Live In Rapid City
This live set was captured pristinely at Rapid City, SD, by UK/Spain/Chicago/Ireland artist Sarah McQuaid (vocals/acoustic guitar/hand-foot percussion). The music’s a strong repertoire of 17 songs in a showcase that includes good between-song patter & a fine, small but receptive audience. Ms. McQuaid has a deep vocal color that could sway between folky & easy listening if not bluesy. She has a timbre & presence similar to England’s June Tabor solo or when she’s with The Oyster Band (“Lullaby of London”). Sarah’s speaking voice is also compelling – you want to listen to what she has to say, & she has a good narrative tone.
The first 3 tunes are wonderful story songs – “Low Winter Sun,” “Where the Wind Decides To Blow,” & “The Tide.” Sarah doesn’t compose songs that are cliché-filled – there’s a purpose, a tale & an assortment that has continuity & appeal. This is a Bandcamp-only digital album, with 3 bonus live tracks collected on Walking Into White Live In Rapid City (Dropped May 2/Shovel & A Spade Records). The sound has live looping & effects from Martin Stansbury, who restored & mastered these pieces from an October 2015 performance.
For a single artist on stage, Sarah manages to emit sounds that contribute to her atmospheric vocals. “Jackdaws Rising” is of particular interest & ambitious. I won’t even suggest that Sarah perform more intense songs since she does. Much the same as the Midwest’s Carrie Newcomer. Sarah sings with a magical gift of being entertaining without being glossy as an entertainer.
“The Silver Lining” tune comes closer to a Joni Mitchell, Buffy Saint-Marie, & Judy Collins type late ‘60s folk contribution. Nostalgic. Even some of Sarah’s acappella songs are mindful of Tabor, who always projects a rich, warm vocal. It’s not easy to be similar to a Tabor since most UK female singers are more in the realm of Sandy Denny, Mary Hopkin, a young Marianne Faithfull, & some approach the cinnamon of Christine Collister or Susan Osborne (Paul Winter Consort).
Sarah’s voice would be appropriately applied to some of the late Nick Drake’s mother, Molly’s original songs, if they made Molly’s material available for covering. Molly’s songs were mesmerizing & probably where Nick inherited some of his stylizations. This is a fine introduction to a wonderful artist. Sarah McQuaid plays with confidence, virtuosity, charm & exceptional skill. Did I say she sounds good, too? Yes, I got that covered.
Highlights – “Low Winter Sun,” “Where the Wind Decides To Blow,” “The Tide,” “Walking Into White,” “Jackdaws Rising,” “Yellowstone,” “The Silver Lining,” “Canticle of the Sun,” “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” “Crow Coyote Buffalo,” & “So Much Rain.”
Color image courtesy of Sarah’s website gallery. Song samples @ https://sarahmcquaid.com/home & https://sarahmcquaid.bandcamp.com/album/walking-into-white-live-in-rapid-city
