A large part of the thrill of
Shirley Collins
' 2016 album
Lodestar
was the fact it existed at all. A combination of dysphonia and a severe loss of confidence had led the iconic British folk singer to retreat from music beyond a few guest spots on recordings with
Current 93
.
Collins
hadn't recorded an album of her own since the late '70s until organizing the home recording sessions that led to
. It was a more than welcome return from an artist whose career seemed to be over, and it also reawakened
' belief in her own talents. Emboldened by the enthusiastic reception
received,
went into a recording studio with the same group of musicians (led by
Ian Kearey
of
Oysterband
) and returned with 2020's
Heart's Ease
, an even stronger and more satisfying collection of songs. Like
,
is the work of a singer more than 80 years old, and the passage of time has corrupted the clarity of
' instrument. However, her sense of phrasing and the authority she brings to songs from the traditional folk canon remain impressive, and here she sounds like the eminence grise of British folk, masterful and eloquent even when her voice betrays her age.
lacks the audio virete feel of
(with the occasional sounds of the outside world bleeding into the microphones), trading it for the clarity and control of a recording studio, and
' performance more than compensates for any warmth that has been lost along the way; she finds enough joy and tragedy in these songs (many readily familiar to folk enthusiasts) to give them new life despite often being centuries old.
and his musicians have lent
exemplary support, adding to the gravity and atmosphere of the songs while never intruding on the vocals. And the closing track, "Crowlink," is a true surprise, a droning experimental piece married to a distant yet powerful vocal that honors her gifts while putting them in a fresh, original context.
was a joyous reminder that
hadn't truly gone away.
goes further, revealing she's still a vital performer and an artist willing to explore new and unfamiliar territory, suggesting a more interesting future than listeners might have imagined. ~ Mark Deming