Juniper Three – Spiral
It’s all in the voice, or in this case voices, is a particularly apt intro to Spiral, the debut album from Scottish female vocal trio Juniper Three, featuring the harmonious and melodious blend of singers Aimee Penman, Laura Hill and Outi Karhu.
Spiral follows on from the piano & vocals delicacy of 2023’s self-titled EP and four album track singles (garnering airplay on a number of radio stations including, most significantly, BBC Radio Scotland).
Nor is Spiral just about tonal blend and vocal pitching; musically and compositionally there’s a lovely and intentional retro vibe at play (from soulful balladeering and classic pop harmony to soul and jazz), with a splash of 90s pop-art.
The results are an album that presents Penman, Hill and Karhu in unified harmony, in both vocal and songwriting terms, with lyrics that focus on the things that affect us all (including life, love, loss and reflection).
The trio have also brought Girl Power to bear across the entire album, with instrumentation provided by top-notch Scottish session musicians Gemma McCarn (keys), Jenny Clifford (guitars), Mandy Clarke (bass), and Lauren MacDonald (drums).
The album opens with the understated mid-tempo of 'Playing It Safe,' which immediately introduces the singers' impressive and beautifully blended three-part harmonies. Simple but elegant in arrangement (a trait of the album), the song asks if you should "take another chance" or stick to the song’s title.
The funkier and rockier 'Expert,' harmonises and criticises on the web-warriors that pontificate on any and every subject you care (or dare) to mention ("when did we all become an expert, when did we all become world authorities?").
A tasty guitar solo from Jenny Clifford and a cool Middle 8 are the icing on the pop-funky cake.
'Mimic,' which opens A Capella, shifts into a skippy little jazz-pop excursion that wouldn’t have been out of place in a more adventurous singer-songwriter album of the late 60s or early 70s.
'Journey On' is one of two EP tracks re-recorded for the album.
Initially brought to the table by Outi Karhu (the EP featured one track written by each of the singers) the slow, soulful and bluesy relationship song is more than worthy of its rerecorded place here.
Beautifully delivered, it sits proudly as an album highlight.
'The Game' is a short A Capella that showcases the trio's harmonies, and vocal blend, to fine and full effect.
The title track, which follows (and the other song to feature on the EP) is wistful and woozy little gem that, again, would not be out of place in the soul-pop and harmonies world of the early 70s. Another highlight.
Ballad 'While Away' is cut from the same wistful, laid back mould as the title track (it also, arguably, carries the strongest and loveliest of the ever-enchanting harmony arrangements); the subtle use of wave drum (courtesy of Edugie Claire Robertson) is a nice, ocean spray touch.
'Symphony' is another that sits four-square in the 70s of reflective vocal pop (here with a touch of soulful country, emphasised on the short but well-placed guitar solo), while the atmospheric and slow building 'Perigree' (which includes Maya MacAdam on violin & harp) is a progressively shaped winner.
Following a short Reprise of 'The Game,' the album closes out on the beautifully plaintive (and, again, gorgeously harmonised) 'More Than Bones.'
Championed by BBC Radio Scotland, making the select list of judges' Highly Recommended acts at Celtic Connections and providing backing vocals for one of Scotland’s finest singer-songwriters, Benny Gallagher (who has also waxed lyrical about the band) are significant markers on the vocal qualities and compositional skills of Juniper Three.
And, now, a debut album that deserves to Spiral upwards towards even higher achievements.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase at Bandcamp: https://juniperthree.bandcamp.com/album/spiral
Website: https://www.juniperthree.com/
Spiral follows on from the piano & vocals delicacy of 2023’s self-titled EP and four album track singles (garnering airplay on a number of radio stations including, most significantly, BBC Radio Scotland).
Nor is Spiral just about tonal blend and vocal pitching; musically and compositionally there’s a lovely and intentional retro vibe at play (from soulful balladeering and classic pop harmony to soul and jazz), with a splash of 90s pop-art.
The results are an album that presents Penman, Hill and Karhu in unified harmony, in both vocal and songwriting terms, with lyrics that focus on the things that affect us all (including life, love, loss and reflection).
The trio have also brought Girl Power to bear across the entire album, with instrumentation provided by top-notch Scottish session musicians Gemma McCarn (keys), Jenny Clifford (guitars), Mandy Clarke (bass), and Lauren MacDonald (drums).
The album opens with the understated mid-tempo of 'Playing It Safe,' which immediately introduces the singers' impressive and beautifully blended three-part harmonies. Simple but elegant in arrangement (a trait of the album), the song asks if you should "take another chance" or stick to the song’s title.
The funkier and rockier 'Expert,' harmonises and criticises on the web-warriors that pontificate on any and every subject you care (or dare) to mention ("when did we all become an expert, when did we all become world authorities?").
A tasty guitar solo from Jenny Clifford and a cool Middle 8 are the icing on the pop-funky cake.
'Mimic,' which opens A Capella, shifts into a skippy little jazz-pop excursion that wouldn’t have been out of place in a more adventurous singer-songwriter album of the late 60s or early 70s.
'Journey On' is one of two EP tracks re-recorded for the album.
Initially brought to the table by Outi Karhu (the EP featured one track written by each of the singers) the slow, soulful and bluesy relationship song is more than worthy of its rerecorded place here.
Beautifully delivered, it sits proudly as an album highlight.
'The Game' is a short A Capella that showcases the trio's harmonies, and vocal blend, to fine and full effect.
The title track, which follows (and the other song to feature on the EP) is wistful and woozy little gem that, again, would not be out of place in the soul-pop and harmonies world of the early 70s. Another highlight.
Ballad 'While Away' is cut from the same wistful, laid back mould as the title track (it also, arguably, carries the strongest and loveliest of the ever-enchanting harmony arrangements); the subtle use of wave drum (courtesy of Edugie Claire Robertson) is a nice, ocean spray touch.
'Symphony' is another that sits four-square in the 70s of reflective vocal pop (here with a touch of soulful country, emphasised on the short but well-placed guitar solo), while the atmospheric and slow building 'Perigree' (which includes Maya MacAdam on violin & harp) is a progressively shaped winner.
Following a short Reprise of 'The Game,' the album closes out on the beautifully plaintive (and, again, gorgeously harmonised) 'More Than Bones.'
Championed by BBC Radio Scotland, making the select list of judges' Highly Recommended acts at Celtic Connections and providing backing vocals for one of Scotland’s finest singer-songwriters, Benny Gallagher (who has also waxed lyrical about the band) are significant markers on the vocal qualities and compositional skills of Juniper Three.
And, now, a debut album that deserves to Spiral upwards towards even higher achievements.
Ross Muir
FabricationsHQ
Purchase at Bandcamp: https://juniperthree.bandcamp.com/album/spiral
Website: https://www.juniperthree.com/