Amy Duncan - Cocoon
Acclaimed Scottish folk singer-songwriter Amy Duncan emerges with 'Cocoon', the latest album to be released on her own label Filly Records. But 'Cocoon' is somewhat of a departure for the classically trained double bass player, in that the instruments she turned to for this lockdown collation are mostly electric – electric upright bass, electric guitar, and electric piano. Only muted percussion - tabla playing from Guy Nicolson, and acoustic guitar from Finn Duncan offer any natural accompaniment to her delicate, haunting vocals.
The result is a collection of nine songs, written and demoed at home at the height of lockdown, then mixed and mastered with producer Cameron Malcolm in Leith. Like so many musicians who are now releasing collections, these songs are largely inspired by personal experiences of loneliness and isolation, themes that have become quite familiar over the last eighteen months. Whilst lead single 'A Door Is Opening' remains positive, and celebrates the joy of being allowed outside to walk and exercise, opening title track 'Cocoon' still weighs heavy as a reminder of long days and nights wrapped in isolation, unable to visit friends and family.
'January' promises a new beginning, a time to make plans, and by the time we reach 'Warrior' a brave spirit emerges, ready to search out company and restore human contact. Closing track 'Forget Me Not' is a reminder of how difficult that process can be.
In years to come musicologists will no doubt make much of these lockdown releases but for me, however beautiful Amy Duncan's voice may be, I still look forward to hearing her play with a full band again.
