Our present cultural climate is obsessed with overcharged egos, emotional incontinences, media hysteria about who is the best this and who is the greatest that. What really matters is relatively simple to state. In my criteria I focus on one issue. Namely, does the artistic end product achieve what it set out to do?

The answer is clear to me. This collection is of outstanding quality. This is both true of Brian Jones’s expertise and Helen’s huge vocal expressive skills. It is a pure joy to listen to. It is structured sensitively and is composite and varied in terms of genre choice as well as expert vocal performance.

Helen’s skills as a backing singer have been highly appreciated by myself over many years. I don’t, however, see any significant difference between that particular arrow in the quiver and her consummate ability as a lead vocalist. She employs exactly the same highly honed and polished attributes; attentive listening, instinctive phrasing, and a distinctive delivery shaped by each song’s meaning. No false theatrical tricks. Sincerity is always on her agenda and highly present on this superb collection of folk based songs by various writers.

Highlights abound:

What a starter to our veritable feast of music in the shape of a beautifully crafted song by Ian Chesterman. A lovely idea for a song about the possibility of strangers we pass on the streets being potential friends. She elongates the long vowel sounds written into the lyrics by Ian thus allowing the listener to absorb that notion of possibility. It is a cracking beginning to the collection.

A stark double tracked contrast comes next with a slightly tongue in cheek yet sincere point made that now you are gone out of my life, I’ll be ok thank you very much! I love this up tempo take on the song.

With ‘Lady of the Camelias’ she achieves something extraordinary in distinguishing third person narrative from first person narrative in her vocal delivery. Make no mistake about it, in the latter she becomes the unfortunate lady. I was personally stunned by that technique and still am.

‘Mist Over the Mersey’ at last has a female voice and the delivery on each verse is unique and captures loss and gain in our lives effortlessly.

‘Seek and Ye Shall Find’ is faith personified! I adore its joy and uplifting spirit. It makes the listener feel like clapping and singing. No mean feat.

‘Red is the Rose’ is simply the best version of the traditional song I have heard. Catch Brian’s solo. Fantastic.

‘Too Many Cloudy Days’ is another gem from Ian. What is outstanding here is that Helen interprets the complex syntax in the writing with comfort and ease, allowing the song to breathe.

‘Victoria Street’ is Rock and Roll pastiche. Yet, Helen overlays the song with a sympathy for the zany characters in it in a way a male voice would find difficult.

A wonderful finale is the old Cash Carter song about, yes, death, yet joy in the afterlife with up tempo revelation.

It’s a classy, highly accomplished creation to return to in eager anticipation. I will always go to listen to this outstanding collection from Helen and unequivocally recommend it to you all.

Thank you Helen and Brian.

Jack Owen Sept 1st 2025.