Hush - 'A Lifetime' (Island) Released 19/09/05

Hush little baby don't say a word... Hush are making waves over in their native Denmark with their country-tinged melodies. Bringing the dear listener cupid-affected songs with a feminine-feel, primarily about the joys of love, rich jangly melodies with acoustic guitar, mandolin and some spartan instrumentation - delivered in a manner evoking free-wheeling on bicycles down country-lanes. Michael Hartmann plucks guitar whilst Dorthe Gerlach airs her unique voice - sounding most like Stevie Nicks with shades of Tori Amos and Tammy Wynette.

It's love themes from the opening with 'If You Go Breaking My Heart', gentle acoustic guitar, strings and Dorthe singing "I'm the girl with shiny eyes, a little devil in disguise...the dewy, dewy grass is high..." revealing talents of song-writing at work that continues throughout, whilst poetic-imagery is woven into 'Say A Little Prayer' - "...frosty trees will grab at you until you fall...", a song about how the physical heart remains intact and hidden, the pain of loss concealed. The title track 'A Lifetime' is a lush-ballad accompanied by piano as Dorthe sings "every shining colour has a shade of you in it...", falling deeply in love. Hush's melodies and Doethe's voice are shown to the fullest on 'Sometimes' and 'Lovestruck' - the former a mandolin-plucked - liltingly delivered; the latter about the joys of love written in a manner Universal that reminds of Fairground Attraction, with Dorthe singing "my mind is in a sweet haze...and I'm longing for your embrace...".

You don't mess around with this girl, boy - 'That Don't Make It Right' has the glare of someone who sees into the truth of a situation, and don't like what she sees or what you are saying - "I saw you in the cafe, with your hand in hers, a shadow spell on my skin, deep inside a burn...". 'For How Long' is a finely-crafted song in all departments that leaves this listener wanting to hear and reveal more - a ballad with layers of truth and experience, pared-back piano and cello supporting Dorthe's cadences.

'A Lifetime' is a promising opening from a duo with obvious talents who will be garnering broad appeal. The overall feel is affectingly romantic and innocent that allows you to warm to its embrace, to allow the icicles around the heart’s chamber to thaw, to sink into its melodies.