The St Buryan Sessions

Throughout 2021, Sarah McQuaid has been releasing songs and videos as The St Buryan Sessions, her live lockdown recordings made from the church near her home in Cornwall. This album, her sixth solo offering, comprises the full session and presents songs from her career to date, accompanied by a concert video.

It seems empty churches are made for McQuaid, as her rich, robust vocals are given the space they deserve – and the listener doesn’t need to hear the clamour of a recorded audience to know that this is special. Sweeter still is when looping technology enables her to sing with herself, as with ‘In Derby Cathedral’, while sweet is swapped for sinister in ‘If We Dig Any Deeper It Could Get Dangerous’, demonstrating her variety. But though her vocals are both memorable and inimitable, there are instrumental delights to be found here, too. ‘The Day of Wrath, That Day’ is an evocative, meditative groove played on the electric guitar recommended by then producer, the late Michael Chapman. Chapman’s influence is felt elsewhere, with McQuaid’s presentation of his song, ‘Rabbit Hills’, afforded a little more gravitas, which was included to celebrate his 80th birthday.