Suzy Mangion's first release after splitting up with Michael Varty is 'The Other Side Of The Mountain', which was once again recorded in Manchester. The music of that no longer together duo, George - on their two albums for Pickled Egg-never meant that much to me but this debut Suzy Mangion album did touch a chord. The solo artiste she now is should get all the attention that should be coming her way because of that lovely pure voice, the delicate songwriting involved and her sometimes hypnotizing performance.

A homebrew, that came to full effect with a little help from a few friends and through odd recordings, gives room for contemplation as equally as it does comfort.

The fragile 'Come In By Stealth' for example has sounds recorded in a pub. It could be Johnny Vegas giggling there, in the background. Quietness is often put against misleadingly austere backbeats and this leads to a grand range of sound in 'The March Past'. Then there's a moment of queer kitsch on the Italian sung 'Il Monde è Qui', which is sweetly sequenced into a pretty 'intermezzo'.

'The Other Sound Of The Mountain' closes with a grand finale. Suzy has by then reached the summit, and it would be a shame for her to descend and spoil this sense of levitation.



Track Listing