GWEN SWICK Love And Gold (Spin) Rating: NNNN
Toronto-bred, now Elora-based singer/songwriter Gwen Swick has delved deep into her consciousness to deliver a lush — and luscious — second record. Currently a member of Quartette — about the closest thing Canada has to a female supergroup — she’s known for her complex and beautiful vocal arrangements that put her gifts to gorgeous use. An intense solo work that swings from jazz to folk to pop, though with a strong guitar base, Love And Gold basically can’t be labelled. Almost all the tracks have an epic scope, and the lyrics deal with emotional and spiritual issues without getting hokey. Fans of Joni Mitchell and Tori Amos should snap up this CD. Check Swick out when she plays Hugh’s Room on Friday (November 2).
