While I Sit and Watch This Tree Vol 2

Born in Romania, but now based in Scotland, Lizabett Russo is a singer-songwriter influenced by Western and Romanian traditional styles, scat and jazz, and a cool, gently hypnotic voice that is capable of switching between breathy, laid-back passages and demonstrations of her impressive vocal range.

After the success of the first volume of While I Sit and Watch This Tree two years ago, it was to be expected that she would follow the same format, accompanying her songs on guitar and charango, and with her backing musicians again led by the Scottish folk and jazz guitarist Graeme Stephen, who also provides effects and piano work. Her songs are often gently thoughtful and intense, have strong melodies, and range from the gently edgy, hypnotic ‘Do You Know’ to the brooding ‘What Grows Inside Dark Souls’ and the Romanian ‘Dincolo de Nori’ (Beyond the Clouds), reflecting her experiences as an immigrant. As on the last album she includes one re-working of a British folk favourite, and her gently compelling treatment of ‘House Carpenter’ is one of the highlights of another great album. I have only one complaint; she has a great voice and it doesn't need to be treated with so many effects.