I'd just like to start off by saying a massive thank you for all the support that people have shown for the album, it really does mean a lot to me :-D
So far we've had quite a few reviews for Take Flight, and the purpose of this blog is to put all the reviews so far in one place for anyone who would like to read them more easily! Big thanks to all the reviewers, please check out the links to their websites (embedded in logos - fancy), there's some great new music out there so go and see what you can find! (If you come across anything you really love report back here.)
So, here we go....
Meghann Clancy
Take Flight (self release)
Clancy is a North Yorkshire lass, now living in Newcastle, and her debut album is a winner, confirming this singer/songwriter as a real talent. There’s nothing earth-shattering about her acoustic songs, but there doesn’t need to be, as the quality of her melodies, the purity of her voice, and the sentiments she expresses, are quite wonderful. These are songs about love, about loss, about yearning, about living life and helped by the fact that she’s managed to snare some great musicians to add some beautiful instrumentation to them. Truly lovely stuff. DP
Take Flight (self release)
Clancy is a North Yorkshire lass, now living in Newcastle, and her debut album is a winner, confirming this singer/songwriter as a real talent. There’s nothing earth-shattering about her acoustic songs, but there doesn’t need to be, as the quality of her melodies, the purity of her voice, and the sentiments she expresses, are quite wonderful. These are songs about love, about loss, about yearning, about living life and helped by the fact that she’s managed to snare some great musicians to add some beautiful instrumentation to them. Truly lovely stuff. DP
Rating: 4/5
Grassington girl Meghann Clancy may have relocated to Newcastle upon Tyne, where she not only co-hosts an open mic night at Loco every Thursday and plays as part of Greg Genre and Box Box Box Box, but also finds time to showcase her lush vocals on her self-penned compositions.
While still largely unknown on the national circuit, Clancy has bitten the bullet and unveiled her debut album, the aptly titled 'Take Flight'. For Clancy is set to use 2013 as a launchpad to see her career as a soloist soar outside of her local terrain.
Clancy is everything you could ever wish for in a female vocalist. With echoes of Andrea Corr, Tori Amos, Patsy Matheson and Sinead O'Connor, she's a memorable vocalist able to channel emotion and provoke both smiles and tears. Sonically, Clancy is more akin to contemporary storyteller Lotte Mullan, for her own musings are whimsically engaging. From the determined 'When You Look At Me' through to the longing 'Bite The Bullet', 'Take Home' offers many magical musical moments.
While the playful opener 'Love You All Over' epitomises Clancy's ability to channel emotion and balance it with a radio-friendly, sing-along delivery, there are moments when 'Take Flight' highlights Clancy's need for stronger production. 'Heart & Mind' could easily become the album's most memorable, most touching and poignant moment, but in a quest to emulate Emeli Sande, Clancy seems to lose the spark that defines 'Take Flight'. Equally 'Ghost' should be chillblain inducing, but the overlayed vocals detract from the beauty instead of building on the drama.
Ending with the tender grace of 'Can't Do Right For Doing Wrong', Clancy may close her debut journey with her most understated number, but it is the one that offers the greatest impact. While there are echoes once again of Emeli Sande - with a sprinkling of Delta Goodrem and Birdy for good measure - Clancy never loses her sense of self to the artist that has inspired her sound. 'Can't Do Right For Doing Wrong' is simple, honest and moving.
'Take Flight' might not tick every box necessary for a perfect score, but that makes it no less worthy a listen. Clancy is a striking singer/songwriter, whose open approach to lyrics often leaves a listener breathless.
Yorkshire Times Top 10 for 2013
7. Meghann
Clancy
North
Yorkshire lass Meghann Clancy may have relocated to
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, but the songbird does her home country proud on
her brand-new debut album 'Take Flight'. Andrea Corr meets Tori Amos,
Clancy's musical musings are touching, tantalising and uplifting.
So So Gay Magazine
The resurgence of
the singer/songwriter over the past decade has no doubt contributed
to the untimely chart demise of plastic pop and R&B, but it has
also re-installed a sense of independence to the music industry. As
many a troubadour tries their luck, only a few truly shine among the
masses. Newcastle upon Tyne based, Grassington girl Meghann Clancy is
a talent many tip to top the tree.
While Clancy is
currrently a permanent fixture of the North East’s live circuit –
where she not only co-hosts an open mic night at Loco every Thursday
and plays as part of Greg Genre and Box Box Box Box – her recently
released début album, Take
Flight,hints
that she may be on the brink of national domination.
Vocally reminiscent
of Andrea Corr, whose touchingly rich vocal soundtracked the late
nineties and early naughties, Clancy is a strong reminder that music
should not simply be about post production. Her lush vocals, stirring
melodies and heartfelt honesty are moving and uplifting, but never
lose a sense of her pop sensibilities.
With echoes of
playful songstress Lotte Mullan, Take
Flight
opens with the sensational sing-along ‘Love You All Over’.
Beautifully upbeat Clancy immediately marks herself out as a Lisbee
Stainton for the Radio 1 listener.
While ‘Take
Flight’ offers echoes of Emeli Sandé (‘Heart & Mind’) and
Birdy (‘Can’t Do Right For Doing Wrong’), it is her Patsy
Matheson driven ‘When You Look At Me’ that truly sets her apart
from the multitude of female soloists who are currently riding high
in the charts.
From The
Curator:This
isn’t typical singer-songwriter music. Oh sure, cute girl and
guitar they’re present in equal fun measures. But infused in this
album us strong pop sensibilities. You’ll find your head nodding
and your toes tapping. Listen to track 4: When You Look At Me or
Track 6: Give Me Everything. (Track 4 is my favourite on this album,
one of the divine reasons the repeat button was created!) ~Sammy
Meghann Clancy is an
acoustic singer-songwriter from the UK, originally from the wild
countryside of the Yorkshire Dales and now living in the city of
Newcastle upon Tyne.
Meghann released her
debut album “Take Flight” last month. The album is made up of 10
original songs, composed by Meghann and performed alongside a group
of very talented musicians, with instrumentation varying from simply
voice and acoustic guitar, to a string section, and full band
arrangements.
The music combines
catchy melodies and a pure, haunting vocal, with songs drawn from
stories of life experiences.
Meghann’s music
has been played on BBC Radio 6 and BBC Newcastle, and the music video
for ‘So What Now’ was selected for screening at the 2012
Portobello Film Festival.
Most recently, she
has been selected as one of the ‘Top 10 Artists To Add To Your
Playlist in 2013' by the Yorkshire Times.
Press Love
“Andrea Corr meets
Tori Amos, Clancy’s musical musings are touching, tantalising and
uplifting.” (Jeremy Williams, Yorkshire Times)
The Music
Quick…while Mom’s
not looking tie around your neck her best red towel, Superman style
and prepare to Take
Flight.
Fans of folk music, this artist may just be your musical cup of tea. Meghann Clancy is an acoustic singer-songwriter from North Yorkshire however, is now currently living and making music in Newcastle.
In December last year, she released her debut album ‘Take Flight’ after, releasing her debut single ‘Neck Of The Woods’ which was picked up by BBC Introducing, on BBC radio 6, with Tom Robinson.
‘Take Flight’ is a mixed bag, the album includes a range of upbeat tracks with a wistful sense of love, ‘Love You All Over’, as well as slightly more poignant, reflective, songs, ‘Can’t Do Right For Doing Wrong’. Each track is composed of heartfelt lyrics and, sweeping cords of the piano or the gentle strumming of an acoustic guitar. Both of which accentuate Meghann’s soft northern vocals. Each songs composition compliments her signing rather than drawing your attention away from the story of her lyrics. Overall this is an hidden gem of a debut album, full of raw emotion and talent.
According to Clancy’s website, Take Flight, “hosts a collection of songs…which represent such rites of passage as growing up, leaving home, falling in love and making difficult decisions to move on with life.” Clancy started playing music as a solo acoustic singer-songwriter, but recently for her new album she’s been performing with a large group of musicians. On her website, fans can also see the inspiration behind each song and read her lyrics.
“Bite the Bullet” represents the time in life when you realize it’s not going to be easy and sometimes you have to take a chance. The entire song sounds airy with the background music, but Clancy enters singing the following lyrics like she means business.
Bite the bullet,Get your head out of the sandBite the bullet,And step out on to dry land
This song could be inspiration for fans who are stuck in a rut and want to get out. This song represent Clancy’s music, because every song has a strong message it’s not just beautiful music.
“Ghost” has an eerie sound to it and Clancy sings normally and high in the background. When she sings in the beginning of the song the music stops and her voice echoes. The lyrics and song sound like a person who is waiting for an answer, wants to have peace and resolve the issue at hand. The music features Liam Guaghan on bass and the strings fuel the melody.
Each an every song on Take Flight is inspirational and may help fans realize that you’ll get through it no matter what. The last song to mention is a song Clancy wrote about a young person feeling defeated by bullying, but comes through fighting and in the end being stronger because of it. “Spread out your wings and take flight, and I don’t want to touch ground.” It’s the lyric that inspires her entire album. So according to Clancy, fans spread out your wings, take flight, bite the bullet and listen to fantastic music like her’s along the way.
Wordkrapht Rating: 5 Stars
That's it for now, although I am told there are a couple more on the way - I'll keep you posted! Thanks for reading - if you made it to the end! M x x
