Reviews

Artist: Belinda O'Hooley
Album: Music Is My Silence
Label: Rabble Rouser
Tracks: 10
Rating: ***
Contact:  www.belindaohooley.com

Whilst touring in her own right to support her debut on Rabble Rouser, Music Is My Silence, Belinda has also been out on the road as part of the Winterset. Rachel Unthank returns the compliment by guesting on this album.
Music Is My Silence is a highly polished collection of songs that gently sway between folk and jazz. Belinda's songwriting style leans heavily towards the arrangement as well as the lyric. To provide the necessary quality of playing that this style of music demands, O'Hooley has recruited the likes of Sarah Allen(Flook) and Steve Waterman to her cause.
Some of the songs have political leanings, Moon Over The Water reflects the conflict between workers and tourists in beautiful areas, it focuses on the fisherman of the Isle of Mull, but could be set in a lot of places along the coastline. It's a wonderful song with a great message, but on the first two listens, it swept over me because I was concentrating on themusic, not the narrative.
You can feel Belinda's Irish heritage in some of the songs, Monelea, being a good example, Lover being another. It's her emotive songs, and she wrote all ten tracks on the album, that show her at her strongest. Izuko No More has a highly captivating darkside as it deals with suicidal themes.
One of the problems I had with the album, is that at times it get's a tad too self indulgent. No where is this more noticeable than on the title track. The intro could easily be chopped and nothing would be lost from the song. It's a song that really shows off O'Hooley's voice as well as her piano skills, but tries too hard to explain it's self.
Overall, I quite liked Music Is My Silence, there's a lot going for it.  Well written, plenty of shine, no sign off scuff marks, but, ultimately flawed by trying to be too much.