Album review: JACKIE OATES – Gracious Wings

Bandcamp [Release date 02.09.22]

Although this is Jackie Oates first album since 2018 she has been busy not least on the weekly online sessions with John Spiers (Bellowhead), who guests on a couple of songs on the album. For this, her eighth album, she is joined by guests including the aforementioned Spiers plus vocalist Simon Emmerson (Imagined Village, Afro Celt Soundsysytem), John Wilks (guitar), Mike Cosgrave (accordion, piano, guitar, mandolin), John Parker (double bass), Megan Henwood (guitar, vocals), Tom Crook (vocals) and Richard Evans (mandolin, whistle).

Reading through her bio she gains an extra point as she was born in Cheshire and raised in Staffordshire like this reviewer!

Jackie Oates certainly likes to cast her musical net wide and far. For those after a traditional folk fix the opening trio of ‘When I Was A Fair Maid’, ‘Robin Tells Of Winter/Gracious Wings’ and ‘Tammy Toddles’ will delight your ears and senses. The self-penned ‘Robin Tells Of Winter/Gracious Wings’ in particular is an uplifting and joyous listen.

‘La Llorana’ sees Jackie on a co-write with Megan Henwood, who also sings on the song. Based on their friend Amy Mason, it tells the story of coming of anti-depressants, first time pregnancy and travelling around Texas. Their vocals complement each other perfectly. John Spiers takes to the mic (and melodeon!) on ‘Iruten Ari Nuzu (I am Making Wool)’, which they both sing in the Basque language it was originally composed and written in.

Her cover of ‘On and On’ by indie band the Longpigs is a bit of genius, proving that a good song can be done in any musical genre or manner. The album closes with another cover, this time Tom Waits’s ‘Time Time Time’. Gentle double bass and guitar provide a sublime backing to Jackie’s singing where she is joined by Simon Emmerson and Tom Crook on backing vocals. Impressive and thensome.

Jackie Oates is regarded as one of folk’s leading lights and you can see why as her latest album has enough to please the traditional folkie and more importantly, appeal to those who wouldn’t normally listen to folk music and are drawn in by the fine singing and musicianship that can be heard. ****

Review by Jason Ritchie

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