Album Review: Jess Morgan - Aye Me (Self Release)

Jess Morgan's second full-length solo album and follow up to her excellent 2010 debut ALL SWELL, once again showcases one of the most unique voices on the acoustic music scene today. The Norwich-based singer-songwriter has two tricks up her sleeve; firstly her remarkably emotive yet slightly fragile voice and secondly her penchant for writing thoroughly engaging story songs such as The Thompson Family Singers and I and A Musket of My Own, both veritable novelettes of songs or simply modern folk songs for our time. Curiously the album begins with a guitar instrumental Heads of the Valley Road, a sort of spiritually reflective moment before we embark on the lyrical journey ahead.  

Whilst songs as powerfully emotive as Workhouse demonstrate Jess's flair for tugging at the heartstrings, the singer-songwriter's humour shines through on both Connecticut and the almost whimsical The Most of All, featuring the widely lamented of all endangered species, the bespectacled library assistant (of which this reviewer is one!). With Cambridge-based singer-songwriter Dan Wilde duetting on The Result, further contributions come courtesy of Tom Hartley Booth on piano, accordion, clarinet and glockenspiel and Edwin Ireland on cello and bass.