Listening to "Relic" by Emma Tricca on a humid summer day seems strangely inappropriate, since this album has the feel of an autumnal treat. The Italian-born, London-based singer-songwriter can be uneasily be located in the folk tradition although some have noted a distant link to Nico. Influence sluices will have a rare old time debating this yet what is not contestable is that "Relic" is a fine album by a maturing talent.

Much is made in the promotional blurb around her career of the impact that an early meeting that Tricca had with the greater guitarist John Renbourn had upon her musical development. His fingerpicking style does find echoes in this album not least on the lovely "Coffee Time". Overall however the ambience here is more Greenwich Village than the Hebden Bridge Trades Club although there are crossovers. Opener "Golden Chimes" has a shine and shimmer to it which is very engaging. Some might argue that "All the pretty flowers" might be deemed a bit twee but the sort of Dylan style edge to it just about carries it through. "Sunday Reverie" starts with almost spiritual chanting but develops into a charming regretful ballad. Finally both "Drunken Conclusions" and the reprise of "Golden Chimes" ensure that any future albums by Tricca will be well worth seeking out to see how this intriguing artist develops.

Review by Red on Black