Artist: Isobel Heyworth
Title: Close Your Eyes
By Conor Duffy

Many moons ago, when Angry Left Wing Mofo still produced a print ‘zine (better known as 2004), I was honoured to review a CD entitled On The Back Of An Envelope, by a Manchester artist called Isobel Heyworth. It was, without doubt, the best thing I'd heard, and still holds an important place in my heart, as well as my record collection.

Now Ms. Heyworth has returned to steal even more hearts with Close Your Eyes. Containing a host of brand new material, as well as re-recorded versions of four songs from …Envelope, Isobel has created another remarkable work of beauty. With the backing of a full band this time, the fuller sound compliments her delightful vocal tones, sweet as honey and just as smooth. More of the songs allow Heyworth to show her more playful side, such as ‘ Rio ' or ‘Song 2a', which comes complete with its own “Ba-da-pa-pa”'s.

All of which gives the more sombre tracks, such as ‘Best Dress On' and ‘Trying Hard', a much bigger emotional punch. Sometimes the lyrics are remarkably direct and even candid. The production retains this sense of honesty, not deleting the scratch of fingers across guitar strings or the creak of a chair. I found this to be especially effective during the dark love song ‘Plant Me A Tree.'

The re-recorded tracks still sound better than anything you'll hear from the vast majority of female singer-songwriters riding high in the charts. The always-beautiful ‘God Knows Why' has made the transition particularly well, with the addition of piano and double bass turning it into the perfect slow-burner for these dark winter evenings.

Those Joni Mitchell comparisons keep coming thick and fast, but it's time for Isobel Heyworth to be recognised as an artist of equal calibre to Joni, Patti and every other woman who's ever picked up an instrument and used it to create a heart-rending, truly magnificent sound. If you allow an album as spectacular as Close Your Eyes to pass you by, I would wonder why you even bothered to buy a CD player.

Picture from www.isobelheyworth.com