Emma Swift - Blonde On The Tracks - New LP

Emma Swift has been hailed for the strength and beauty of her songcraft and a resiliant yet vulnerable voice that is both heartbreaking and heartbroken all at once. This was first begun at Nashvilles famed Magnetic Sound Studio in 2017 but only recently brought to fruition, with Swift working alongside producer Patrick Sansone (Wilco, The Autumn Defense) via email in April and May to finesse the unfinished material and record two further songs to complete the project. Swifts reimagining of Dylans songs bring a balancing gentleness clear and soft where the songwriter might rasp; plaintive and emotive where he may perhaps be more sanguine. Indeed, Swifts vocal on I Contain Multitudes is so immediate and clean that its almost as if you feel her breath in your ear. Its striking in its intimacy, especially as heard during this time of communal isolation.

Furthermore, Blonde On The Tracks marks another chapter in Nashvilles deep connection with Dylan, a long, proud legacy encompassing such timeless LPs as Blonde On Blonde, John Wesley Harding, and of course, Nashville Skyline. Swifts Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands harkens back to that distinctive sound, while other tracks call to mind Dylans celebrated work with The Band. Sansones masterful production provides the perfect light touch, supporting Swifts vocals with instrumentation by some of the finest session players Nashville has to offer, including pedal steel guitar from Thayer Serrano, Steelisms Jon Estes and Jon Radford (on bass and drums, respectively), and guitar by legendary British singer-songwriter and inveterate Dylanologist Robyn Hitchcock.