Sister John - Self Titled (Album Review)

Words Craig Carrington-Porter

Spending a weekend away in London catching up with an old friend, drinking, smoking and pissing in both a phone booth and in my friend’s back ground-my excuse being that someone was in the shower upstairs, his retorted aggression in the fact that he had a toilet downstairs. With my mates plants watered and my hangover hydrated to extinction, I was now sat in Stansted Airport waiting for my plane to fly me back to Glasgow.

Even with the plane being delayed I kept myself busy. On my list of,  ‘albums to listen to’ there was Sister John’s self titled album. The sophomore to its debut, Return From The Sea Albums can be difficult to get into, mainly because it is either something you have been waiting for or, the album is from a band that you have never got into. So, I hold my hands up, being honest I’ve never listened to Sister John before but there debut was highly acclaimed and spurred a tour of sold out shows.

I press play on the first track, Eight Years. I’m bobbing in time to the bass, plucking on the 1,2,3 and 4 scaling into the flowing chorus. Comparisons, influences, words are floating around my mind. There is a remembrance of Norah Jones as the tracks flow into line one after another it takes me back, the album has a progressive, journey feel. Only being my first listen to the album I am getting to grips with it. Its a Scottish, contemporary folk album. None of that line dancing, cowboy hat and silly twat country folk stuff. Its relatable with existing elements of bass, drums and guitars. Nothing else is really chilled man, a simple message of:

‘Nothing else but love in the end.’

Waiting for the sun follows and gives that indentation that the album has a darker vibe compared to their debut album, Returned From The Sea. This is further established in Lost and Won. It has an acoustic guitar intro and a ghostly, reverb-esk female voice. Really simple and I like it. The words are quite subtlety written:

“I’m in this spot,

Don’t know how long now,

Pull the curtains shut,

Sun calls anyhow,

Pushing shadows round,”

Sitting in Starbucks, waiting for my plane and checking the boarding times I am beginning to get fidgety. The album is good but I am forcing myself to listen it, I want their to be a song that hits me a bit harder. Skipping through the songs, letting my ears have a taste I suddenly stumble upon, Love Me or Not-Reprise.

I listen, no skipping, no taste test. People are shuffling around the airport, grabbing coffees, sleeping, reading and eating. Restless passengers and air flight crew members are passing through. The beauty of the track besieges me and catches me off guard. It’s beautiful but has no singing on the track.

I go back to the original track, Love Me or Not and the only similarities is the structure and tempo. Arrangement and instrumentation are completely different and it puts me in awe. It is in a ¾ structure, its a waltz vibe and considering it is put together with just piano and strings. The instrumental (The Reprise) song is worthy of first dance material between you and a partner or, a soppy moment in a rom-com movie.

Time sways and swings until my flight is finally called. After spending nearly an extra hour delayed I’m finally on my way home to Glasgow.

The band got together while singing for The Parsonage Choir. Amanda McKeown gathered musicians together to perform songs for a one event. Connecting through the original material the group stayed together and formed Sister John. Selling out shows throughout the UK in 2017 they began working on the album in April 2018.

Sister John are Amanda McKeown (Vocals/Guitar), Jonathan Lilley (guitar/bass/keyboards/vocals), Heather Phillips (violin/bass/vocals) and Sophie Pragnell (viola/drums/vocals)

The album was released on the 25th of January by the record label, Last Night From Glasgow.