Stephanie Dosen - 'A Lily For The Spectre' (Bella Union) Released 04/06/07

Having been raised on a peacock farm in Wisconsin and written many a song for her favourite pet swan and fox, the demure blonde Stephanie Dosen embodies the mysteries of the soulful female artist like a woodland nymph. 'A Lily For The Spectre' is an album strong in feminine wiles taking a few listens to spin its magic gossamer threads with Stephanie's song-craft in shades of watercolour vignettes and impressionistic dreamscapes where characters could be real or imaginary, delivered by a songbird voice that has shades of Eva Cassidy, Vashti Bunyan, a subtle Sinead O'Connor and an ethereal Elizabeth Fraser.  

Acoustic arrangements carry the tunes with string accompaniments adding depth, intrigue and lustre, an acoustic guitar with plastic strings so fine-tuned as to be almost harp-like. The finest track 'Lakes Of Canada' finds Stephanie's voice carrying the melody and cadence with a shimmering phosphorescence "...look for me another time/ give me another day/ I feel that I could change/ rowing on the Lakes of Canada..." blessed with such understated elegance. 'This Joy' addresses fleeting moments and those that last - "...this joy is gonna fade..." and 'Vinalhaven Harbor' finds a darkness at heart "...my dreams fell upon/ a pillow of crow feathers I slept upon..." coming across as a female Damien Rice with the ghosts hovvering - "...I go to the dark playground / I can't let go...".

Up-beat songs such as 'Only Getting Better' and 'Way Out' have an out-at-sea breeziness with a loved-up patina, the latter as though backed by acoustic stalwarts Clayhill, and a tune here and there is borrowed with 'Daydreamers' taking from Soft Cell's 'Say Hello, Wave Goodbye' and Joni Mitchell's 'Woodstock' lending the chorus - "...we are daydreamers/ we are invincible..." amidst a summery-garden melody, whilst Sia Furler's voice comes to mind with the drawn out verse of 'Death & The Maiden' and the man who takes more than he gives - "...you have a vampire grin...so take what you have to take from me...".

Mystery is evoked with the nocturnal woodland tune 'Owl In The Dark' aided by a string quartet and the lover proving elusive - "...if I'm just an owl in the dark/ I will find you...", and 'Like a Dream' shares a naturalistic ambiance as fluid as water - "...and you disappear like a flame...". But it's the title track 'A Lily For The Spectre' that draws all the more from nature's mysteries with Stephanie's voice coming across like Tom Yorke set to a virtuoso track and forest bird-calls.

Having been generating a good deal of recognition and awards Stateside, Stephanie Dosen carries a lovingly crafted album that's devoid of any weak links. 'A Lily For The Spectre' is an ethereal album that will be binding itself to hearts with its naturalistic ambiance and bewitching vocals proving irresistible.