American singer, guitarist and songwriter Meg Baird was once part of Espers, the now legendary psychedelic folk band from Philadelphia that was at the forefront of the folk rock revival in the early noughties. Baird established her own name with the restrained acoustic folk album Seasons Of The Earth in 2011. That she made fans of this one wait four years for a successor is perhaps not smart, but
… it also says something about her integrity. In the meantime she also released records with her sister Laura as The Baird Sisters and she played drums and sang in the punk band Watery Love. Beautiful and timeless products are in no hurry and Don't Weight Down The Light is a taste of that. In this she surpasses Seasons Of The Earth with eleven soothing and atmospheric folk songs. Her voice has something solemn but it always has a poignant melancholy reminiscent of Sandy Denny and Nick Drake. Her dark songs plucked on acoustic guitar are tastefully accompanied by Charlie Saufley on electric guitar, organ and percussion. Baird knows how to hit you with a vulnerable album that rises above any mainstream genre. (MR)more
