Review - Maria Stratton "Forgiven"
ABC Songwriters' Series on EMI Records
What a surprise this album turned out to be! Everything about it
suggested that this would be another "Tea
for Three" (Saunders Kane and Del on ABC through EMI)
- the cover portrays a seemingly shy and introverted woman; the single was a
softer selection - but as the photo inside the back cover and the music within
reveals itself, we find the true meaning of the musician who is Maria Stratton.
Black Tar Road opens with the same conviction of a rocky Joni Mitchell with a totally unique and
independent tone. Steady Beat brings
the steady beat back a touch but it doesn't lose the feel. Angel follows straight on in the same vein, and on it all goes.
Maria is
also a multi-instrumentalist playing guitars, keyboards, vocoda (??!) and
squeeze box on the record as well as (obviously) singing and writing
everything.
An excellent album! Buy it - listen to it - recommend it to your
friends and tell them to buy it (please don't pirate it!) Not a 5 from 5 but
very bloody close! Maria Stratton's "Forgiveness"
- part of the ABC Songwriters' Series through EMI Records