Amy Duncan – Pilgrimage

Amy Duncan – Pilgrimage / 2006 Plain / 8 Tracks / http://www.myspace.com/amyduncan / http://www.plainrecordings.com / Reviewed 22 May 2007

The vocals of Duncan are such a major part of “Pilgrimage” that they dwarf out the (decidedly) Spartan instrumentation that is present during tracks like “Wonderful Friend”. The is more of a classical sound to “You See (Right In)”, but the same things that started off “Pilgrimage” are present: a strong vocal presence that is only mildly moderated by the instrumentation during the track. The one thing that needs to be said about the earliest tracks on “Pilgrimage” is that Duncan’s use of dual vocals puts this album to a whole other level.

So many individuals that are attempting to do this style of music have a set of vocals that while strong, are not strong enough to bear the weight of an entire track. During “Wonderful Friend” and “You See (Right In)”, Amy Duncan bundles eir vocals with another set of vocals, giving eir that extra strength that is needed. However, there are times during “Pilgrimage” that Duncan goes it alone and succeeds in ways that few other individuals can; “Walk Away” is one of these tracks, and while the second set of vocals do enter into the equation, Duncan does quite well when there is only one layer of vocals. The interesting thing about Duncan’s vocals during this track is that they sound as if they are out of key during times, but the quirkiness of the sound is enough to imbue a further sense of humanity to this track. The eight tracks during “Pilgrimage” run thirty-four minutes, but the compositions rattle around in the minds and hearts of anyone listening in for a much longer time.

Duncan’s uncanny ability to make songs that resonate deeply with listeners makes this a must-have album. Individuals may not like the style of music that is present, but the genuine sound of eir vocals and the effort that Duncan puts into this album goes beyond mere partisan likes and dislikes. I know that I will be looking for more Duncan albums in the near future, but if Duncan never cuts another album, I can continually listen to “Pilgrimage” without getting tired or played out in the slightest. The smart compositions on the disc and the smarter vocals make sure that this is a timeless album. For fans of a very folksy, indie style, “Pilgrimage” takes Enya and blends it with mid-nineties female singers to make something greater than its constituent parts.

Top Track: Stars

Rating: 7.4/10

[JMcQ]