Nightjar. Liz Overs

Liz Overs released a beautiful album on which she explores folk music as it is played for since forever and translated it for the here and now. As if the songs sang by the people that inhabit "The Chalk" in the millennia spanning novel 'Sarum' by Edward Rutherford, have found their way to Liz Overs.

Liz Overs debuted on this blog under the name Liz Pearson, the singer of Chalk Horse Music. Three singles all found their place on this blog. Today it's time to put the spotlight on Night Jar, an album that brings the listener to another space and time immediately. A world where time does not exist, where anything to do with deadlines, hurrying and stress are works of the devil. As it is pointed out in another magnificent novel, 'De Harpij' (The Harpy) by A.N. Rijst. Moat likely it will not be translated into English and that is your loss. Liz Overs' music belongs to the world created by the fallen angel in 'De Harpij'.

No matter which song I would pick out of the twelve options on Night Jar, my story would be the same. Liz Overs takes us out of this world for a few minutes. And yes, you will hear elements of Sandy Denny's Fairport Convention or Nick Drake's folk with the jazzy accompaniment created by his producers, but what you really hear is Liz Overs' take on folk for the second quarter of this century. One song may have a full band, playing quite soft, another may be nearly bare and finally only "a few" Liz Overs singing together, the effect is totally the same. You are carried away by her voice and music.

Night Jar is an album to be carried and caressed by. This music wraps itself around my ears and makes me forget everything else. There's no other way to describe it. Accompanied by musicians Neil MacColl, Ben Nicholls and David Tomlins, Liz Overs created her own musical universe in which it is simply fantastic to roam. Together they play Liz Overs originals, four traditionals and one co-written song. Together this makes up Night Jar, an album anyone should listen to and be touched by. One of the best records of the year so far and contender for the end of year list for certain.

Wout de Natris - van der Borght

 

You can listen to and order Night Jar here:

https://lizovers.bandcamp.com/album/nightjar