Although only just recently released in the U.K. Sarah MacDougall’s second album has been available, certainly in Sweden, the country she was born in, for nearly a year now. It appears that a few years ago MacDougall made another album, ‘Headed for the Hills’, but it was only available at gigs. So not having heard that debut and with ‘Across the Atlantic’ being touted as MacDougall’s first official release we’ll treat it as such.

Currently living in Canada when she is not touring, which is something MacDougall seems to do a lot of, it’s not surprising that the music she makes can easily be bracketed in the alt. country / folk genre. What is surprising is that MacDougall not only wrote all ten songs on ‘Across the Atlantic’ but she also recorded and produced them. This is no kitchen-sink production either, apart from a maybe misguided introduction to the opening song, ‘Ballad Of Sherri’, which sounds like it’s coming through a tinny transistor radio. MacDougall should be proud of the fact that if, for some unfathomable reason her singing career should fail, then she could well be in demand as a producer.

‘Ballad of Sherri’ eventually does get to shine. Maybe MacDougall was trying to make a point that she is no lightweight; that she knows where the roots of the music she makes come from with that introduction, but once the sound of the song fills out it shows that MacDougall can write an extremely catchy tune coupled with lyrics that are far from throw-away. It’s a good sing-along country song, one that belies MacDougall’s age and origin but worryingly, as an opener, makes a new listener wonder if, fine as this song is, it’s all she has to offer.

Thankfully on the following song, ‘Ramblin’, MacDougall presents us with the first of a bunch of slower songs on ‘Across the Atlantic’; songs that we eventually, by the end of the album, know that this is where her future should lie.

There have been many names mentioned when writers have been trying to compare MacDougall to other female singer/songwriters. With ‘Ramblin’ there is only one comparison needed and that’s with possibly the most important female singer/songwriter to emerge in the last thirty years, the one who, in fact, named her first album ‘Ramblin’ and is named Lucinda Williams. I hear so much of Williams in this particular song, especially her later work. But what is most surprising is not that MacDougall manages to evoke the work of Williams on this song but that she achieves it at a much younger age than Williams did. It took a good few years until Williams’ music matured into what it is today and the same amount of years for her to gain the recognition she deserved. If MacDougall comes up with more songs of the calibre of ‘Ramblin’ then her journey to the top will be considerably shorter than the road Williams had to travel.

The production on these songs really is remarkable. Even when MacDougall and the bunch of musicians she chose to bring these songs to life let loose on songs that are more upbeat and country influenced like the opening song and ‘Cry Wolf’, MacDougall manages to capture the sound of a band having fun and enjoying recording the songs without them ever sounding ramshackle; one gets the feeling that a lot of heart and soul went into each and every note.

The title song is another beautiful tune, slowing the pace down to sing the praises of her hometown while missing a loved one left “across the Atlantic” it’s another catchy tune but typically, while on her more up tempo songs her melodies can sometimes grate a little if you are not in the best of moods, on slower songs MacDougall’s tunes envelop the listener like that favourite winter coat. Even if it wasn’t possibly the only song ever to be written about Malmö, it will always be the best song written about that town.

MacDougall plays the same trick on the next song on the album, ‘I’ve Got Your Back’, another slow gem of a song with MacDougall sounding her world-weariest best it’s another song that will break hearts.

We’re only two months into a new year but MacDougall has been the biggest surprise so far with possibly the best new album I’ve heard so far this year. The production is impressive, MacDonald obviously has an ear for putting the right but sometimes totally unexpected sounds in just the right places, the playing is immaculate throughout and her vocals pull you into every song. I’d have to say that I prefer MacDougall when she sings her heartbreaking ballads but even when she ups the tempo the strength of her melodies wins me over.

Sarah MacDougall is touring Europe from April and I hear she is even performing at some small venues in Sweden in March ; catch her now while you can. I’ve a feeling that it won’t be too long before she has to leave the more intimate venues behind. ‘Across the Atlantic’; the first truly great album of 2010.


Track Listing