LOUISE ROGAN
Give Me a Day
Nothing gives us more pleasure than to celebrate the success of our home-grown talent and with the solo debut from Manchester’s Louise Rogan, we are happily able to do that.
Let’s start by dealing with the obvious. Louise has a voice that angels would kill for, but that isn’t all that this album has to offer, and we shall take great pleasure in telling you why.
Besides her vocal brilliance, there is much to this album that makes it the delight that emerges, not just on first listen, but subsequent outings as well. There is more to this than meets the ear. A couple of other things to note. In order to produce a full listening experience Louise has surrounded herself with some of the best around. Of course, her father Chris makes his presence felt on most of the tracks, contributing sublime guitar and occasional vocal, but in addition Mike McGoldrick offers, not only his trademark multi-instrumental skills, but also extends his duties to control of the mixing desk. Not only does his contribution bring both musical and sonic gloss to proceedings but of course is able to draft in some other stellar collaborators, including long time compadre John McCusker, all adding their own something to Louise’s keyboards.
So, the sound is both polished and something else positive but what really makes the album are songs. As with a previous release, albeit jointly credited with her Dad, there is a mixture of well-chosen and immaculately delivered cover versions, along with the self-penned. The latter range from the intimate and the reflective – Evie’s Lullaby takes the tune John McCusker’s ‘Jessica’s Lullaby’ and makes it personal, whilst Where You Are celebrates her grandparents. We are then treated to themes of history, The Staithes Bonnet references the code of hats in the Yorkshire fishing village and onto stories that deserve to be told, linking past and the present, from a take of a hero dog, to personal reflections on people from her past in both time and place in Chicago Ave. So, while the voice remains a constant, both the music and the material give it the chance to truly shine, while the range of subjects maintain additional interest throughout. The mixture of the traditional and the contemporary define the collection as both of the moment and timeless – folk music that remains rooted but feels free to grow!
Frequently to be seen around our own North-West, wherever she happens to be, do make it along to see her if you can. In the meantime, have a listen to Give Me a Day, which will only stiffen your resolve to catch the live shows.
