CD Review: Madam - Gone Before Morning

Written by Craig Podmore Monday, 21 May 2012 14:24

Artist: Madam
Title: Gone Before Morning
Genre: Alternative / Country
Release Date: 9th April 2012
Label: Shilling Boy Records

Album Review

The sullen, smooth and haunting voice of Sukie Smith makes MADAM a captivating band to listen too. From the get-go, Gone Before Morning pulls you in with its intensity of sorrow and beauty with the opening track ‘You Lead I Follow’. The whole album crafts layers of atmospheric tones, sounds that will creep under your skin and stay with you for some time after the first listen. Lyrically, Smith battles issues of modern romance and the lack of it. Her voice yearns; it emotionally reverberates at affective points of crescendo, the accompaniment of violin and cello in certain songs really warms the heart, inciting immense power to the sound in a whole becoming the second most important voice on the album. Although, a fine percentage of the album is downbeat and is at times hard to negate its overwhelming misery however it does at times, come through the surface with evocative and euphoric elements especially in songs such as ‘Weekend Love’ and ‘Ride The Waves’.

Shockingly, this album is a re-release due to poor reception first time round. It’s saddening to know that such a talented band and singer hasn’t yet made a bigger scene. Success and acknowledgment is truly well deserved for this group if not for Sukie Smith alone. The album is very short with it being the duration of 34 minutes only, not a satisfactory length although that being said, Smith’s sultry vocals will indeed hypnotise most people as well as warm you through and through.


Tracklist

01. You Lead I Follow
02. The Ground Will Claim You
03. The Snake
04. Weekend Love
05. Tar And Serpents
06. Someone In Love
07. Cover The Ground
08. If You're Looking For A Way Out
09. Marine Boy
10. Ride The Waves


Line-up

Sukie Smith – Vocals
Sarah Gill – Cello, Saw, Keyboards and Vocals
John Robertson – Guitar
Nick Bergin – Bass and Vocals
Jeff Townsin – Drums
John Mercdeo – Programming


Websites

http://www.madam.org.uk/


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 7
Sound: 7
Total: 6.5 / 10


Buy the album here!