kate rusby Underneath The Stars (Compass) Rating: NnNN
Rating: NNNN
The first studio recording in three years from Yorkshire-bred Celt-folk star Kate Rusby should be required listening for anyone who dismisses traditional music as quaint, anachronistic fluff. Rusby’s charmingly girlish delivery and beautifully restrained arrangements never seem precious and make old-timey standards sparkle with a freshness most newbie pop tarts would die for. And while the historic folk ballads here are great, it’s Rusby’s original material that really shines – the elegant Falling is a simple love song that resonates like a sonnet with John McCusker’s beautiful string accompaniment, and the title track glows with stunning accents from the tiny perfect brass ensemble.