Album review: CHARLOTTE SMITH & DAVID CLIFTON – The Tree in the Wood

Little Room Recordings [Release date 17.10.25]

An album of traditional folk tunes reinterpreted by Charlotte Smith, a London based singer songwriter and David Clifton, an Oxford based guitarist and singer, formerly a member of the indie band Sensible Jerseys and has played guitar for Tanita Tikaram, Mary Coughlan and Julia Fordham amongst many others.

The album was recorded in London, Knoxville and Nashville, and as well as Charlotte and David, features fellow musicians Bethany Hankins on violin and Thad Brown on drums.

Quite how Charlotte Smith isn’t more well known is a mystery as she has the perfect, melodious vocal for the traditional folk songs on here. ‘Searching for Lambs’, the album’s uplifting opener ‘Blow the Wind Southerly’ and the duo’s beautiful rendition of ‘Early One Morning’ (complete with soaring violin courtesy of Bethany Hawkins), are perfect examples of this.

For many years it has been a toss-up between Queensryche and Simon & Garfunkel over the best version of ‘Scarborough Fair’. Now we have a new contender, as the vocals and guitar playing on this one are rather special. Never easy to stay true to classic melody, yet still make it your own, which Charlotte & David achieve on here.

If you like your folk female led, the right side of traditional (i.e. no tankards or Arran knitwear in sight) and above all, enjoyable and have you listening to it again and again, this album does that and then some. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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