I like Mars Bars and I like KitKats. In fact it's fair to say that I like all sweet things. Therefore it is probably no surprise that I like Irish singer songwriter Polly Barrett. Her album "Mr. Bookshop" is an unassuming one that is equally free of yype and saccharine sentimentality but still exudes warmth.
Her songs are those of the big city singer songwriter even though they draw from folk and the dreaded Americana for some of their inspiration. Crumbling relationships, as you might therefore expect, seem foremost on her mind with the passion subtraction of "Almost Friend" as good an example of her sweet natured lyrical detachment as you will find on this album. "Try" follows much the same theme but suggests acceptance rather than detachment.
It is something of a curiosity in these days of girl power and silicone enhanced assertiveness that a female singer songwriter should take the polite and mannered approach to matters of the heart but that is what Polly Barrett has done here. The stripped out production adds little to her words but that most likely was the plan.
I think I shall buy Polly Barrett some flowers. I think she'd like that.