Black Currents is a four track EP by Scottish folk singer and Mumford & Sons mentored Rachel Sermanni. This is her second EP and it has been well received, reaching the top of the coalition charts upon release.
Opening track Breathe Easy eases the listener in with a calming intro, as the track is built up gradually by the wealth of instruments her band use and Rachel’s beautiful voice. Instantly you can hear how she has being influenced by Scottish folk music; yet managing to put her own quirky stamp on the genre. The Fog has a faster pace with an infectious melody. Rachel reminds me a lot of British folk queen Laura Marling. She uses clever story telling song writing along with layered instrumentals as she engages the listener in classic folklore tradition.
Haunting vocals take hold of me with the title track Black Currents. At only 19 Rachel’s voice displays maturity and experience beyond her years. This particular song is quite dark and at times eerie. Once again her incredible vocal range is on display as we move into the next track, Song To A Fox. A simple song with a nice melody, but is gripping lyrically as every word captivates this listener.
The EP serves as a simple but effective insight into the talents of this young lady. For me The Fog is the stand out track from a stellar EP. I hope that we’ll be seeing the lovely Miss Sermanni at some of the summer’s festivals, as I can only imagine how enchanting a live set would be. In my humble opinion I would tout Rachel Sermanni as one to watch for 2012.