In collaboration with string group Spectratone International, folksy songwriter Mirah‘s latest work is a concept album of sorts — and in an age of digital downloads and iTunes singles, a concept album this well developed is hard to come by.
Similar in sound to Black Cat Orchestra (with whom Mirah has previously collaborated), Spectratone International create an ambiance of plush simplicity with winding cello parts, the soft strum of an oud, and the gypsy-like combination of accordion and ringing percussion.
The songs progress and blossom much like the insect gestation illustrations on the back of the album; beginning from almost nothing, a delicate and deep cello part eases the first track into existence, and Mirah‘s airy, high-range vocals lead the listener in a seductive dance of sparse pleasantries. As the record wears on, additional instruments and more complex vocal melodies are added, creating a wondrous, slow-burning build that lasts until the final track.
Her lyrics fall in line with this theme, focusing mostly on birth, growth and discovery, which is appropriate considering the pioneering nature of her bare-bones, enchanting work. At disc’s end, it’s hard to decide what is most impressive about Share This Place: Mirah‘s swooping, pitch-perfect voice, the expressive, delicate nature of her words, or Spectratone International‘s backdrop, which is versatile and stunning.
Together, the singer and her backing musicians are a sum much greater than their individual parts, and this album is a necessary addition to the music libraries of Mirah fans and new discoverers alike.