Linda McLean

CD: No Language
(Bongo Beat Records)

TORONTO STAR REVIEW

Huntsville singer-songwriter McLean's strong sophomore effort is a rack of energetic, guitar-driven country-rock songs with suitably gentle folk inflections and lyrics of the ruminative variety, in hopeful tales of love and bitter tales of loss. Her remarkably flexible voice is given ample room by veteran producer-engineer John Whynot, alongside veteran sidemen Gary Craig on drums, bassist Maury Lafoy, and which might otherwise be overcrowded with harmony vocals, excessive ambient noodles and the flashy guitar work of Andy McLean her husband, and former member of The Tenants who turns out to be a fine arranger with a gift for impressive hooks. No Language serves notice of the arrival of a committed and focused artist. Check her out next Thursday at the El Mocambo in a dynamite multiple bill with Jenny Whiteley, Laura Repo and John Borra.

Greg Quill

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