Time for some quiet introspection. For that is what we get with this album from Ella Bell. It has a quiet, dreamy feel and just washes over you. Delicate and sweet, lyrically it takes us back to the glory days of British folk music in the late sixties without forcing us to grow beards and wear Aran sweaters.
The title track, "Drink to Love", is a fine slice of moody pop music but is not really representative of the rest of the album. Tracks like "Black Sea" and "Cat" have a poetic feel to a musical backing that reminds us of the Cocteau Twins. "I'm the Entertainment" show that Ms Bell is not lost in the past and can address the shallowness of modern times. Our favourite track was the hypnotic "Come on a Journey" that builds to a crescendo of anguish.
Not the kind of music that is likely to be played in his Subaru by an urban troll, this album grows on you and will be best enjoyed by those of us who have been around awhile and need something to soothe the soul. A couple of steps away from magical, it does however show considerable promise.