Album Review: Georgia Ruth – Cool Head
Georgia Ruth's most impressive work to date is marked by her aptitude for subtle experimentation, along with her ability to create highly catchy tunes and meaningful lyrics. She takes great care to focus on every musical element, and it is this attention to detail that truly captures the raw emotion of each moment. All of these factors culminate in what is known as her trademark "Cool Head" sound.
Having claimed victory at the Welsh Music Prize for her debut Week of Pines in 2013, Georgia Ruth has since released her albums at a steady yet unhurried pace. Fossil Scale arrived in 2016, followed by Mai in 2020, which marked her first release with Cardiff-based independent label Bubblewrap Collective. From the outset, she has fostered a fusion of gentle folk-pop melodies and classic singer-songwriter allure. Throughout the past decade, she has incorporated an array of additional components into her music, with each subsequent record exploring deeper into the realms of psychedelia, peculiar folk, synth-pop, lo-fi aesthetics, as well as the Welsh language.
Cool Head, Georgia’s second album for Bubblewrap, is a brilliant blend of delicate experimentation, catchy tunes, and meaningful lyrics which she’s always excelled at. The opening track, Signs, incorporates sampled sounds before smoothly transitioning into chamber-pop with the help of a graceful piano. However, as is typical with Georgia’s music, there’s a hidden depth to the seemingly simple music with unconventional melodies and lyrics that are sure to surprise. Her diverse range of influences is apparent in songs like Falling, which includes an improvised section that ends with a magnificent electric piano solo inspired by Ethiopian music legends Hailu Mergia and Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou.
What sets Cool Head apart isn't just the sound, but also the unique concepts that influenced its creation. It's not often that you encounter an album featuring a song written by a fictional character, but that's exactly what you'll find here. Georgia's upcoming novel, Tell Me Who I Am, introduces Jude, a withdrawn musician who writes the title track of the book. This song is also included on the album and is a haunting look at self-doubt. With a country-style rhythm section, gentle violin, and drummer Gwion Llewelyn's moving backing vocals, it's a standout track on the record.
The album's main focus is the significance of family. The title of the album originated from Georgia's father who used to say it to her whenever she faced any challenge. The songs were created soon after her husband, Iwan Huws, the album's guitarist, suffered a severe illness. Therefore, there is an inevitable shadow of negativity surrounding the songs, but there is also a strong sense of positivity. The song Driving Dreams embodies the idea of freedom and is influenced by Glen Campbell. It also consists of a soft touch of horn and is accompanied by a melodious string section, providing an unrestricted and boundless energy. Duw Neu Magic, written just before Huws underwent heart surgery, is sung in the Welsh language, but even an English monoglot can comprehend the sense of spiritual peace it emanates. This peaceful feeling even exists in the shortest of songs such as Eucalyptus, which is less than one and a half minutes long yet contains a wealth of hope, nostalgia, and wanderlust.
Georgia is well-connected in the Welsh music scene and has collaborated with the Manic Street Preachers in the past. In her latest project, Cool Head, she has enlisted notable musicians such as Stephen Black (also known as Sweet Baboo) and Rhodri Brooks from Melin Melyn. Additionally, Euros Childs, frontman of Gorky's Zygotic Mynci, lends his vocals to the emotionally vulnerable track, Chemistry, which is reminiscent of Welsh Big Thief with an added touch of strings. Brooks showcases his talent on the pedal steel guitar on the track Better Off Blue, a country-folk tune that smoothly transitions into soul music that may remind listeners of Lambchop.
Cool Head takes inspiration from the music of the past, specifically a type of folk music with American influences. However, Georgia isn't afraid to incorporate more modern elements into her music. For example, in "Would It Kill You to Ask," electronic drum patterns are woven throughout the song, giving it a contemporary edge while still maintaining a vintage sound reminiscent of 1960s folk music. This combination works seamlessly and adds depth to her music. In "Dim," a Welsh song, the music starts off with a folky simplicity before building into a complex tapestry of strings, blending old and new sounds together. "OK Diner A55" is an instrumental track that has a knowingly retro feel to it, almost as if it could be the soundtrack to a road movie by Wim Wenders set on the North Wales Expressway.
Georgia, a professional harpist, began mastering her craft at the young age of seven. Although the harp isn't the primary focus on her album Cool Head, her classical roots shine through in the way the songs are balanced. Her acute attention to detail brings out the underlying emotions of each moment, while the album as a whole is crafted in a way that guides listeners towards its final three tracks. These particular songs are some of the most powerful and meaningful on the album. When It All Comes Down has a sound reminiscent of Sandy Denny and Laurel Canyon, providing a solid foundation for the heartwarming lyrics about personal growth during difficult times. Georgia's vocals soar towards the end of the song, accompanied by a lovely violin solo from Angharad Davies.
"I'm Not Driving" is a song that complements "Driving Dreams" on the album Cool Head. It reinforces Georgia's idea that the album is a journey, overcoming a kind of helplessness in the face of the world's challenges. The lyrics are based on real experiences, giving them a dreamy quality. The final track, "Bright Morning Stars," is a nod to Georgia's folk inspirations. Sung a cappella, with Euros Childs adding vocals, it's like a hymn or spiritual and provides satisfying closure.
Georgia Ruth has experienced a lot of things in her personal life and also in the world since she first started eleven years ago. However, one thing that hasn't changed is her exceptional talent in producing beautiful and heartfelt folk songs filled with intelligence, creativity, and powerful emotions. Her newest album, Cool Head, has the makings of a timeless classic and is her best work to date.
The release date for Cool Head is June 21st, 2024 and it will be available through Bubblewrap Collective.
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