Maz O'Connor
Album: Upon A Stranger Shore
Label: Demon Barber Sounds
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.mazoconnor.co.uk/

I missed out on the golden days of the folk revival, largely because I wasn't born. I never got to experience the likes of Annie Briggs and Sandy Denny performing in smokey folk clubs performing completely acoustically. There are some, though fewer than there used to be who would claim this diminishes my folk experience, particularly as my formative musical years were spent with the likes of The Clash and XTC.

My early folk discovery moments were the likes of Eliza Carthy, Kate Rusby and Nancy Kerr, all of whom I'm fortunate enough to continue enjoying. Through things such as the Young Tradition Award that chain of great folk musicians and singers continues. The club network lets them get experience and college courses help them learn to survive in the harsh realities of the 21st century, which are no worse than the realities of any preceding century, just different.

For me the thrill of discovering the likes of Maz O'Connor, easily matches that of Eliza Carthy and I'm sure Annie Briggs before me and it would be wrong to deprive this generation of folkies that thrill or diminish it in anyway. The path of discovery may be different, but the thrill is the same.

The first time I saw Maz O'Connor performing at Cambridge Folk Festival with her brother's, accordionist Joe, band, Last Orders I thought I was witnessing something that little bit special. She had a real feel for the music, it was as though the song was living and breathing through her.

It's something that she's managed to bring to her full blown debut, "Upon A Stranger Shore". From the moment you hear the first notes of her version of the shanty, "South Australia" you know you are in the presence of something very special indeed.

Maz O'Connor gives a vocal performance that stops you dead in your tracks, beguiles you into just listening and leaves you richer for the experience. Songs like "Songs Of Old" and "Hard Ain't It Hard" make you want to applause at their conclusion, and it's been a long time since an album did that to me.

She's got a good group of musicians around her, including Joe and that definitely helps, knowing that there is real strength to give you the confidence to be at your best and rest assured, Maz O'Connor is definitely at her best.

Now before I get accused of hyperbole, she's not yet the finished article. I'd very much like her to introduce more new songs to the canon that allow her to be a real differentiator to truly establish a distinct Maz O'Connor, not just one of the best traditional singers you're going to hear in a long time.

Listen to her vocal only version of "Constant Lovers" or her accompanied version of "Leaving Liverpool" and tell me she doesn't deserve that distinction. Quite simply "Upon A Stranger Shore" gives you a real buzz. Take it for everything it gives because this is a standing on the shoulders of giants moment.

Neil King