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After being neck deep in black metal for the bulk of the month, I needed a break, and this seems to be fitting for that. Anti- Corp Music's Magnolia Sessions series has always given me a chance to catch up with the more underground country scene, which often intersects with folk, and Leslie Fox-Humphreys certainly indulges in a thoughtful version of that mix. Vocally, her lilting voice lends itself more to folk music, as there is not a great deal of twang to it. She mixes the harmonica with the acoustic guitar in a Bob Dylan-like blend, but has a better voice, making this more melodic and thoughtful.
I ask the same things from every genre of music: give me something dark and dynamic, with melody to it. By the second song, it is clear this is going to lean into more of the ballad side of things. Her vocal melody is placed more forward in the mic, and not as relaxed as in the previous song. She shows she is capable of reaching into her head register here, even if it is for a moment, the more vocal colors the better in my book.
It is time to clear something up about the term dark folk. The song "Come Wander With Me" is darker than the first two songs, but I am not sure it meets the same definition we have here. I like the song; it's thoughtful and tells a story, but when we talk about dark folk here, we are normally referring to stuff like Death in June, Chelsea Wolfe, or even Amigo the Devil. Bridge City Sinners have even outgrown that definition. "The Lockman' has a similar mood but does not feel as dark lyrically. I like what she does with her voice on "Fear the Bhata."
The cello on the last song helps darken things up more to my liking. The fact that it is her take on a traditional Irish folk song makes sense, as those tend to have a more mournful quality to them. The music forms more of a drone beneath her. This is a solid introduction to what she does and has her on my radar as an artist to listen to in the future. I will give this album a 9.
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