Sung in Ukrainian, opening track The Little Swallow perfectly sets In Winter’s mood, with the lush vocal harmonies evoking the sense of stillness that accompanies a snowed-in day. At one minute forty-five, it is a wonderfully succinct introduction to the album. Perfect World stands out with its gentle build, swelling from just the pairing of Melua’s clear voice with a rhythmic guitar riff, demonstrating excellent restraint, with other instrumentation and the choir entering and exiting the mix as required. The percussion on the track’s bridge makes for a nice augmentation as well. Another brief, chorally driven song, Cradle Song, makes it clear why Melua chose to work with the Gori Women’s Choir.
This is an extract from a review originally published on the 3rd November 2016. Please visit Renowned For Sound to read the full review.
Haydon Benfield is the Expert Amateur 