The story goes like that: at the end of 2005 Paul Tasker and Iona Macdonald leisurely sipped red wine and listened to the good old music and decided that something had to be done. Between 2006 and 2007 they recorded two EPs that impressed critics hence the decision to make an album wasn’t a tough one.
Few other songs had to be written and a concept that would additionally ground their pleasing alt-folk-rock sound had to be found. Tasker and Macdonald are experienced musicians - he is a highly regarded guitarist and songwriter, whereas she, among other, performed with Willard Grant Conspiracy. Critics compared her to Sandy Denny, Linda Thompson, even with Gillian Welch. Still, these references wouldn’t really count if they had produced a bad record, which they didn’t. Their record is interesting and listenable; pleasant songs with good lyrics where Iona Macdonald’s Pilgrim’s Tale sticks out. In almost all the songs (all the others were written by Paul Tasker) there is a breath of memories and traveling – taking a road of a mundane life through the various lands where subject is searching for peace, happiness and love, and sometimes even encounters less pleasant things along the way – but it seems that Pilgrim’s Tale sums up this concept most gracefully. It’s the fourth song on the record be we can easily say that it is a central one. The record was produced by Malcolm Lindsay, to some of you better known from the work with Willard Grant Conspiracy. Doughouse Roses doesn’t necessarily convey the folk-noir feelings from the albums of this group (GWC) nor does their record represent a turning point on the art-folk scene, but I am sure that you will gladly listen to it more than once.
Matej Krajec Issue 9+10 Sept/ October
Muska Magazine, Slovenia
