Louise Latham
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Louise Latham

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Band Folk Singer/Songwriter

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"Louise Latham - Reclaimed, Carnelian records"

Infusing a serene sense of folk with acoustic soul and faint rock, the album marks an important milestone for the Cardiff singer and the music scene as a whole.

Tracks ‘Old Soul’, ‘Young Boy’ and opener ‘Saint’ are usual folk rock fare. Latham’s voice is the most outstanding aspect of the album and on these tracks in particular, it is shown to be a venerable weapon in her arsenal.

Where Reclaimed really shines are in the final two songs. ‘Gilded Bird’ is an ethereal, uplifting track that feels like a culmination of the previous nine tracks come to fruition.

Album closer, the eponymous ‘Reclaimed’ continues in this thread. It is a fitting end to a well-travelled, subtle work that lingers in the imagination.

With backing harmonies from her sister Suzanne, this album feels wonderfully homely. Images of puffing chimneys and rolling valleys are conjured up in the listener’s mind, the perfectly compliment to this eclectic collection of folk ballads.

Latham is the latest in a long line of vocally rich female folk storytellers. Citing the likes of Tori Amos, Cara Dillon and the great, velvet voiced Tracey Chapman as inspirations behind Reclaimed. Following in these women’s footsteps will be no easy task by any means. A feat that has been tried by so many and never quite captured, Reclaimed feels like the best shot at it in a long time.

Comparisons, perhaps unfairly, will always be drawn to similar artists that have gone in Latham’s wake. With the likes of Lissie Maurus, Delta Maid and the hugely successful Nerina Pallot already establishing themselves in the market, the appetite for this style of acoustic soul and folk rock is still prevalent.

Reclaimed is an ambitious album from an artist dedicated to her music. Yet as debut albums go, it feels homely and at ease with itself. Exuding confidence on each of the eleven tracks, nothing feels forced or deliberately aimed at provocation.

The name itself stands as a wonderfully ambiguous statement of intent. Following the album’s overall narrative of a woman coming to terms with the complexities of life and finally finding it. It also serves as Latham’s intention, battle cry if you will, to stamp her mark on the folk and soul scenes, her debut album acting as her first onslaught.

In a musical industry dominated by fledgling, three-minute pop starlets, Louise Latham is a wonderfully adult breath of fresh air. Reclaimed is not just a debut album. It is the first of what will hopefully be the changing face of current trends as everybody grows up a little and recovers their musical integrity.

Writer: Jonanthan Whitelaw Publication: Is This Music
- Is This Music


"Louise Latham - Reclaimed review"


Tue 26th Jun 2012

She has delivered a stunning record that is personal and heartfelt from the opening track to the closing lyrics as well as being incredibly truthful.

Saint is the opening track on the record and it mesmerizes from the very start as the strings on the song are just so incredibly haunting.

There is a real power and emotion to Latham’s vocals and when her voice it paired with these beautiful strings Saint becomes incredibly seductive.

I am a big believer in the idea that simple is always the best and a beautiful vocal with strings and a piano really is all that you need to make a truly stunning track.

She picks up the pace with Melt Me Like Chocolate which is one of the most produced tracks on the album - but it shows a very different style to her voice.

There is a real conviction in her vocal on this track and while this is one of the poppier tracks on the album she never loses those fantastic folk roots.

Erase Me is another highlight with its hypnotic beat and more beautiful and stirring strings as well as tender lyrics.

Louise Latham has reached deep down within to write and record a collection of tracks that are just so incredibly personal. And it is that personal feel that is the most enchanting thing about this record as these songs are a real intimate pull on the senses.

There is an intense and almost ethereal quality to Latham’s voice as it washes over you and really draws you into the track.

Together Tonight is another of those tracks as se slows down the pace and there is magic that is created when Latham’s sultry vocal comes together with an acoustic guitar.

Reclaimed is a debut album of the highest order that shows Louise Latham is not only a great singer but a songwriter of the highest quality.

Louise Latham - Reclaimed is out now

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw - Female First


"NS Review: Louise Latham at Blackheath Halls"

Tue 22nd May 2012

Since hearing the velvety voice of Louise Latham live at Blackheath Halls her music has haunted me.

I’ve been singing her beautiful song Saint at the top of my lungs every day, which is incredible as the gig last Friday night was only the second time I’d heard it.

But this enchanting folk artist has a very special way of getting under your skin.

It’s hard to believe she’s only now starting to get noticed on the London music scene after 10 years of performing and writing.

Having just released her first album Reclaimed, the brilliant thing about the decade-long wait for Louise is she’s already got tons of material ready to go for upcoming recordings.

The profoundly moving songs, which Louise played on the venue’s stunning grand piano, were accompanied by an extraordinary cellist.

I love the way this magnificent instrument sounds, each powerful note resonates within your soul and the talented pair complemented each other perfectly.

Comparing her style to Sarah McLachlan and Fleetwood Mac, it is obvious Louise has poured all of her passion, love and dedication into her spellbinding album. - News Shopper, London


"Reclaimed: review by Joshua Bearman"

Much of this album is reminiscent of 10,000 Maniacs and early Tori Amos, due largely to Latham's voice, sometimes strong and low, others breathy and vulnerable. She uses vibrato tastefully, and can clearly belt out a line when she feels it's warranted, as she does on the bridge of “Old Soul,” nearly shouting the final line, “A thousand souls, waiting for release.” As with much of the album, the lyrics here are evocative while holding enough ambiguity to remain compelling on multiple listens. When she sings “You're an old soul, captured by fears a thousand years old. In each place, lives are revealed, the journeys you know,” it's hard to discern whether she's addressing an individual, a country, herself, or some imagined entity. Featured on this track are vocal harmonies by Suzanne Latham, presumably her sister or mother, and the similarities in timbre in the two voices result in eerie beauty. - Ariel publicity 2011


"Louise Latham Reclaimed: High quality recording from this Carmarthen-born storyteller"

This 11-track debut album is a well-crafted collection of romantic, insightful, soul-searching songs. Recorded in Holland with Producer Arno Guveau, with the string arrangements he has brought forth refreshed treatments to previously released material on two EPs. Louise's vocals always the centrepiece have a haunting, dramatic quality, evident on the questioning opener Young Boy. This is mirrored in the doll's house illustrations on the cover and sleeve notes, which reflects the warmth that the songs bring - dark yet hopeful. Playing the piano and singing was a solitary experience for her. These origins began at Royal Holloway University where she would secretly disappear to the very dark and gothic North Tower filled with pianos to write and built up a collection of songs. Describing the style of music it's as if Beverly Craven, New York band HEM and Julia Fordham had met for morning coffee, a perfect example being the aching I Can See It In Your Eyes and the mellow Bitter Blue.

On the tender Saint, Rozaliya Rashkova provides the solo cello and sister Suzanne the ethereal harmony. Light beckons through the darkness on the charming and restful Beautiful Sky, which has commercial possibilities. On this gorgeous track love wafts like chiffon drapes in the breeze and with a gentle guitar slowly fading in the evening glow. The delicate plaintive piano intro on cinematic title cut Reclaimed is magical Louise's voice is hypnotic, angelic and fragile and sends shivers up the spine, an undoubted highlight of love lost and restored. Seek out the music from this talented and delightful young lady.

Written by Andy Cole - Published by Maverick, December 2009


"Louise Latham Reclaimed: High quality recording from this Carmarthen-born storyteller"

This 11-track debut album is a well-crafted collection of romantic, insightful, soul-searching songs. Recorded in Holland with Producer Arno Guveau, with the string arrangements he has brought forth refreshed treatments to previously released material on two EPs. Louise's vocals always the centrepiece have a haunting, dramatic quality, evident on the questioning opener Young Boy. This is mirrored in the doll's house illustrations on the cover and sleeve notes, which reflects the warmth that the songs bring - dark yet hopeful. Playing the piano and singing was a solitary experience for her. These origins began at Royal Holloway University where she would secretly disappear to the very dark and gothic North Tower filled with pianos to write and built up a collection of songs. Describing the style of music it's as if Beverly Craven, New York band HEM and Julia Fordham had met for morning coffee, a perfect example being the aching I Can See It In Your Eyes and the mellow Bitter Blue.

On the tender Saint, Rozaliya Rashkova provides the solo cello and sister Suzanne the ethereal harmony. Light beckons through the darkness on the charming and restful Beautiful Sky, which has commercial possibilities. On this gorgeous track love wafts like chiffon drapes in the breeze and with a gentle guitar slowly fading in the evening glow. The delicate plaintive piano intro on cinematic title cut Reclaimed is magical Louise's voice is hypnotic, angelic and fragile and sends shivers up the spine, an undoubted highlight of love lost and restored. Seek out the music from this talented and delightful young lady.

Written by Andy Cole - Published by Maverick, December 2009


Discography

Reclaimed released in June 2012.

Reclaimed has been play listed on BBC Radio Wales, My Social Radio and several other stations around the world. It has had international airplay on BlendFM.de, Indie1031.com, KCSN, LA, Independent FM, LA, The Underground, Hong Kong among many others. It was voted Top 50 Albums 2012 by New Sound Wales along with being Album of the Month on Haze FM, Canada's largest online radio station.

Photos

Bio

Gifted Welsh singer-songwriter Louise Latham's evocative debut album Reclaimed was released on the 25th of June 2012 to critical acclaim.

Since the album's release, Louise's career is gaining substantial momentum in the UK and overseas. Reclaimed is enjoying significant airplay throughout the UK and North America. Erase Me, the first single, has been on several playlists including BBC Radio Wales, My Social Radio and Haze FM, Canada. Songs from Reclaimed have also been signed to a British independent film company.

Reclaimed then moved on to become Album of the Month on Haze FM, Canada's largest online radio station. Later in the year Reclaimed was voted Top 50 Albums of 2012 by British music press agency New Sound Wales. Commenting on Louise's success BBC Radio Wales presenter Alan Thompson referred to her as being "One of the best Welsh singer songwriters of our time". Louise has recently teamed up with high profile booking agent Senbla who promotes nationally some of the greatest artists such as Burt Bacharach and Nigel Kennedy.

Louise, an English Literature graduate from Royal Holloway University of London, took her first step into writing her own songs during her time at university. This resulted in Fatuma, a song championed by award winning songwriter Tommy Sands on his Northern Irish Radio show. The song laid the foundation for a lot of the themes that would inform her writing, personal storytelling, human politics, struggle, honesty, hope, dreams and innocence.

If Louise found an ally in Sands, she found sonic architects in Arno Guveau and Greg Haver, the producers behind Reclaimed. Guveau, who previously worked with Manfred Mann and former Fleetwood Mac guitarist Bob Weston, with his empathic production and cinematic arrangements, manages to accentuate rather than overstate the dark romantic heart of Louise's writing. Haver, an award-winning producer who has worked with Melanie C and The Manic Street Preachers, is known for his diverse production skills and innovative arrangements which resulted in warm and lush arrangements on Reclaimed. "The record has a haunting, dramatic and magical atmosphere complementing the songs themselves beautifully." Louise says.

Reclaimed was finally masterminded by twice Grammy Nominee mixer Jeremy Wheatley. Wheatley has delivered numerous number 1 hits and works with an impressive array of artists including Emeli Sande, Taylor Swift and Duffy to name a few. The result is a sound that branches off in a myriad of wonderful directions such as the country-esque Melt Me Down Like Chocolate, the soaring alt-pop of Erase Me, the atmospherics and quiet majesty of Together Tonight to the minimalist outpouring of emotion of Reclaimed itself.

And then there's Louise's voice - pure, ethereal, intense, profoundly moving. When she talks about touchstones, she mentions the simplicity and economy of Tracy Chapman's compositions, the big quiet of Tori Amos's Boys For The Pele album, and the ambitious scope of Sarah McLachlan's Fumbling Towards Ecstacy.

This is an aural landscape made visible by Reclaimed, an alluring collection whose warmth and humanity is a balm in austere times.

Quotes

'A great singer songwriter. Really, really beautiful.'
Mike Walsh, Head of Music, XFM

'A rare talent with a great voice'
Carl Blackhurst, Eagle Radio

'Louise's virtuoso performances bring something very special to the Bedford every time'
Tony Moore, music promoter

'Louise Latham writes soulful stories and tells them with a gentle yet powerful passion. Listen out'
Tommy Sands, Singer songwriter and winner of the BBC 2 Folk Awards

'Impressive......a lovely acoustic quality to her voice'
Frank Hannessy, BBC Radio Wales