So Long at the Fair

Janelle studied the cello before heading into the worlds of improvised music, contemporary dance and traditional folk, and the Ottawa native, now based in Nova Scotia, is now a well-travelled touring musician with her husband, the ukulele player James Hill.

‘Black is the Colour’ sounds like a backwoods Andrews Sisters, and it's a winning opener to a musically varied and wide-ranging set. Encompassing folk, pop, jazz and swing, with even a touch of medieval music in ‘Boston Town’, these are faultlessly executed, inviting arrangements.

‘Captive of the Spring’ is a song of sexual-emotional awakening, and comes with a beautiful 60s-style folk rock arrangement, while ‘A Good Lover’ is sassy with a Graceland-like South African vibe. ‘Forgive Me’ wraps itself around you warmly and willingly, while ‘Nothing Lasts Long’ is after-hours jazz, something you could imagine Norah Jones taking up the charts. Variety stands out more than an overarching identity, but gorgeous pop melodies stand out more than anything. Songs of romance and experience rarely come as fresh and attractive as this.