I was delighted to receive the second album by my favourite female singer-songwriter, Rebecca Clamp. I am delighted to report that, six years on from the wonderful Nocturnal Leap, Key To The City (released on the Folkwit label) is at least as good.

Rebecca’s world is one of grace, sensitivity, tasteful style, passion, playfulness and an enviable ability to savour the best of life. For all her thoughtfulness, Rebecca is not overtly angstful, which makes for a refreshing change. Many of the songs pay tribute to her adopted homeland of Finland, which she makes sound thoroughly appealing. She sings in an unaffected, well-enunciated manner that is a joy to listen to. The piano is the perfect instrument of accompaniment, complimenting the refined richness of the vocals and compositions. Other instruments feature judiciously and occasionally – there are no plodding bass and drums to dissipate the passion.

Each number is equally strong, until we get to the final one, in which Rebecca raises the game beyond her own high standards to produce what has already become one of my favourite songs of all time. The song is St. Wilgefortis, relating the extraordinary tale of ‘the patron saint of bearded ladies’. Rebecca achieves an exemplary combination of humour and sympathetic sensitivity. Utterly magnificent.

‘My love is better than Veuve Clicquot’ is a revealing metaphor from Isadora’s Alice Party, perhaps the strongest track on Nocturnal Leap. And yes, Rebecca Clamp’s music is like the very finest of wines.

Writer: Rychard Carrington