Album review: HANNAH RARITY – To Have You Near

www.hannahrarity.com [Release date 03.06.22]

Three years on from her debut album, ’Neath the Gloaming Star’, Scottish singer songwriter Hannah Rarity releases the follow-up. Hannah won BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year in 2018, along with touring with the likes of Blazin’ Fiddles, RURA and Niteworks.

Joining Hannah on the album are John Lowrie (keys), Scott Mackay (drums, percussion) and James Lindsey (bass, double bass), Innes White (acoustic guitar) plus a string section headed by violinist Seonaid Aitken.

‘I’m Not Going Anywhere’ was penned by Boo Hewerdine (he adds backing vocals too), who is a much in demand songwriter as well as long-time collaborator with Eddi Reader. A song and performance that is simply breathtaking. Not far behind is Hannah’s interpretation of Tom Waits’ ‘Take It With Me’. Less is more on this one with piano and strings giving support to the vocals, but never distracting from them.

The pandemic is covered on ‘My Friend’, a big production number complete with piano, strings, nifty jazz/swing drum beat and a choral backing. Elsewhere, the pop feel of ‘Home’ sits well with the more traditional fare of ‘Scotland Yet’, where she reveals more of her natural accent in her singing to superb effect.

‘To Have You Near’ not only furthers the deserving praise heaped upon Hannah Rarity, but sees her spread her musical wings into pop, blues and jazz, all with pleasing results. One of the finest vocal led albums you’ll hear this year. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
In 2023 he signed a recording deal with Sony in Canada and released a new single on 15 September.

Next session: Sunday 1 December

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 3 November 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 29 October 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)