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Monica Queen, Return Of The Sacred Heart
(Vertical)
With a range and tone very similar to Emmylou Harris, Monica Queen's
voice is simply beautifully angelic.
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 Breathe Beauty
(VRTCD010)
 Return Of The Sacred Heart
(VRTCD010)

 Released: 14th March 2005

within BBCi music:

Monica Queen
Return Of The Sacred Heart
(Vertical)

When someone is hailed as the new Emmylou Harris , eyebrows of
suspicion usually get to work. And rightly so. Imagine the joy then
when Monica Queen's Return Of The Sacred Heart not only sounds like
Emmylou but the whole package sounds like Harris' flawless Wrecking
Ball.

Queen arguably got her first real break when asked by Belle And
Sebastian 's Stuart to help him out on a track he was having a little
difficulty with. The outcome was "Lazy Line Painter Jane" and things
seem to be getting better and better for the Scotland born performer.
Grant Lee Buffalo ,The Jayhawks and Shane MacGowan have all invited her
onstage.

This is Monica Queen's follow-up to her highly acclaimed solo debut Ten
Sorrowful Mysteries . The album opens with a beautiful short number
entitled "Fly Away" featuring Jim White who Queen supported on his last
tour of the UK. The sparse production on "Fly Away" sets the tone for
this semi-religious collection of soulful country songs.

With a range and tone very similar to Emmylou Harris, Monica Queen's
voice is simply beautifully angelic. Stick that on top of this
fantastic and often understated production and the results are quite
compelling. The man behind the production is Johnny Smillie - who
kicked around with Queen in Thrum , their previous band - as well as
providing the aural backdrop to Ten Sorrowful Mysteries. If Monica
Queen is comparative to Harris then it would be fair to say that
Smillie's production skills are akin to those of Daniel Lanois. Quite a
team, really; the goods almost always delight.

This is a comforting album full of surprises. The title track is
masterful and sublime, and "Beautiful Song" is exactly what it says on
the tin. Along with Smillie's technical wizardry, most songs sport
acoustic guitar and "To Accept The Things I Cannot Change" is a
particularly fine example. When the electric and drums kick off "I
Still Wait In The Shadows", it feels like an entire family has just
entered your living room, chatting away and making cups of tea.

"Deja Vu" uses only synths as accompaniment, with Queen's lower range
being used to greater effect. In fact, therein lies what is
ostensibly the only criticism of this disc - that she does not explore
this area of her vocals enough. Not much of a criticism, really, when
her voice is so impressive throughout.

Reviewer: Cormac Heron

Like This? Try These:
Emmylou Harris, 'Stumble Into Grace'
Alison Krauss, 'Lonely Runs Both Ways'
Nanci Griffith, 'Hearts In Mind'