A Canadian songstress with several albums under her belt, Miles has taken the unusual step of producing two discs of her songs, some old, some new and accompanied only by her own guitar or piano. Disadvantaged by any familiarity with her previous releases this bold 'Bunny is unable to compare and contrast this offering with her past deliveries. However, on this showing it might be a wise idea to invest some time and effort delving into her oeuvre.
First thing to say about these discs is that there is an undeniable similarity to Joni Mitchell in the sound and delivery. In particular the chilly landscapes of Hejira are brought to mind. That said Miles does not stoop to imitation although several of the songs are about lamentations of the heart making them early Joni territory indeed.
Two discs of solo singing and playing makes for little variety and with the majority of the songs played at a mellow pace, at times the going is tough. Listened to in the right vein of mind the overall impression is, well, impressive but one wonders whether a single disc might have been a better approach.
While Miles demonstrates throughout her ability to write and sing well, some of the songs stand out. "Map of My Heart" is a slow, glacial song of regret. "Surrender Dorothy" is an imaginative retelling of The Wizard of Oz as if Garland was an archetypal confessional singer songwriter. "Flames of Love" is one of the folkier tunes here with guitar and harmonica accompaniment and is a welcome relief from the denser word poems that surround it. It is followed by "Hide Your Heart" which is almost jaunty and could be a hit in the right hands.
Overall, this is a worthy collection that might delight anyone who is in the mood for a lengthy sojourn listening to a very accomplished songwriter.