* * * * * 5 stars “In The Shadow of Mountains is stunning” R2, Rock’n’Reel Magazine
“Her craft, maturity and sheer joy of singing just keeps getting better.”SpiralEarth.com
“One of the brightest young talents in the UK; her mesmerising vocals and fiddle playing are exceptional”Fish Records
"Bella Hardy sings folk songs not as interesting museum pieces but as human artworks with enduring validity."Tykes News
"...Bella Hardy is more than a new generation folk revivalist... Her potential is massive."fROOTS
In The Shadow of Mountains:
“It’s astounding and somewhat daunting to realise this is only Bella’s second album” English Dance & Song magazine
“A master class in melancholic sensuality” SpiralEarth.com
“An album I’m not afraid to predict is destined for classic status” Tim Chipping, English Dance & Song magazine
“Surely no-one has any right to be writing songs with the sophistication of Sylvie Sovay, so early in their career…delivered with a mastery of melancholic melody and lyrical portraiture that brings to mind no less than Lennon and McCartney” English Dance & Song magazine
“…reveals Bella as a gifted songwriter as well as confirming her as one of the best vocalists on the British folk circuit.” SpiralEarth.com
“...an impressive and confident collection that demonstrates she’s an artist to be reckoned with” Fish Records
“Hardy’s most potent weapon is her voice and she uses it fearlessly...
a full-blooded performance” fROOTS
“She is a young musician of great courage, poise and accomplishment” Songlines
Bella Hardy, critically acclaimed for her mesmerising singing and fiddle performances, released her eagerly awaited second solo album In The Shadow of Mountains on 31st August 2009.
Though only 25 years old, Bella has already been nominated three times in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and has been well known on the folk circuit for many years, playing fiddle in a variety of popular line-ups as a teenager and reaching the finals of the BBC Young Folk Awards in 2004. However, it was following the launch of her debut album Night Visiting in 2007 that she quickly rose to become one of the shining lights of the folk scene, famed for entwining her hypnotic voice with her own fiddle accompaniment to stunning effect. Night Visiting secured Bella a raft of rave reviews, and 2008 saw a packed year of gigs and festival appearances.
In July 2008, Bella was invited to perform in two concerts at London's Royal Albert Hall as part of the first ever Folk Prom. She was given the privileged but daunting task of opening the event with a set of unaccompanied traditional songs and met the challenge with remarkable composure, winning over a host of new admirers. The programme was broadcast simultaneously by BBC4 and Radio 3. She also appeared on BBC2 on Christmas Day, singing the Coventry Carol in Howard Goodall’s ‘The Truth about Carols.
As well as a rich and true voice, Bella’s song-writing is also garnering acclaim. Three Black Feathers, written by Bella as a teenager and first recorded on Night Visiting was nominated for Best Original Song in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2008, and has since appeared on Jim Moray’s award nominated album Low Culture.
On her latest album, Bella presents a selection of new works, including Sylvie Sovay, a modern look at the story of traditional song ‘Sovay Sovay‘. She is joined once again by a number of talented friends and colleagues including Anna Massie, Corrina Hewat and Chris Sherburn.
In The Shadow of the Mountains is a remarkably assured album from an impressive young woman who presents folk songs in the best tradition, not as antiquated museum pieces but as relevant and very human artworks.
Heeeey, Bella - it’s been a while :) - how are you, hope things are good, are they?... Listen, I have a favor to ask you, could I? Since my picture won at the monthly level & Round 1, I got nominated for the LongHair Hawtie of the Year. Round 2 (Finals!) ends in a few days and... - was hoping for those 6 votes from you ;)
So... this is where you would cast a vote
http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=188240006&albumId=1980868
Just look for this picture on the last row:
And these are the rules on how to 'do it' ...
Yeah, you do need to get accepted as a friend of www.MySpace.com/OfficialLongHairHawties before you can vote, but they’re nice girls (the hawtie folks), no harm whatsoever :)
Thank you so much already,
In appreciation,
- Armand
PS. a very 'evil' thought - maybe you can tell your friends to vote too? ;) Could you ask around?
Just got the interesting email about your Japan tour - did you get to visit Kyoto and/or see a tea ceremony/chado? Having studied it during an anthropology major, I hope I get such a chance one day..?
May I presume to bung a plug for HOWDEN RiBFEST II on to your comments please?
Its Friday, Saturday and Sunday October 9th, 10th & 11th with free stuff and paying stuff and drinking stuff and eating stuff and errrmmmm....other stuff.
Find the link to the Howden Live website on me myspace......I thank you.
After you've finished here, you may like to hear this poem sung on myspace...
Poem 162 of 230, WalkaboutsVerse (please see my blog): TEES TO TYNE: FIRST IMPRESSIONS - SUMMER 2001
Where traditions are not so rare; Sea, country and works scent the air; A multitude of monuments, Planted tubs and patterned pavements.
The longish pedestrian malls; The remnants of defensive walls; Historic buildings are a gauge Of the respect for heritage.
Wheat, rape and pines in the fields; Estuaries guarded by shields; Long sandy beaches and wide scenes; Romantic-ruin go-betweens.
Rivers in parts licked by trees, Or fringed by boat clubs, wharfs, gantries, And crossed by practical delights - Varied spans, forming pleasing sights.
Fine churches headed at Durham; Football kits ad infinitum; Kept castles - one for study; Masonry behind masonry.
And, with moulding-works out that way, It’s somewhere for a longer stay..?
Thank you so much for the add! I just had the chance to listen to a few tracks of yours but you're one of the best new discoveries of the English folk music scene. All the best from Italy,
Hope all is well Great page here:) Sometimes we need just a little Sunshine in our lives. That is why I am wishing, on each and every calendar day, for smiles and sunshine to come your way! Thanks for the add Peace and love J.
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