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The grungy sound on folky tunes such as ‘Alright’, which could easily be found in a different context on a more straightforward folk release, is what keeps it interesting for me, and although she treads a fine line where far too many songstresses have already put their musical footprints there is an intelligent edge.

Melanie Garside, otherwise known as Maple Bee — who also plays with the Mediaeval Baebes and grunge rock group Queen Areena — plays most of the instruments on the album, acoustic guitars, bass, recorders, flute, piano and perhaps it is this one-track approach which leaves me with the same sense of something slightly lacking as with many other solo releases.

Where Garside works best is on the tracks where she pushes the left-field element instrumentally as on ‘Bell Song’s’ with its lush percussive samples and stripped-back strings, and in the North African feel to the opener ‘Something’.

For moody, gothically tinged electro-folk fans this is a worthwhile buy

Chasing Eva is released on Prikosnovenie records.

Links:
Maplebee
Mediaeval Baebes
Queen Adreena