There is also a web review by Zeitgeist



Jo McCafferty - Papercuts and Lime

Just say the title and it stings. Ouch. This is Jo McCafferty’s latest collection of her own, very personal songs, and it continues her journey to find her own, very personal way of singing them. This CD contains 13 songs with diverse styles, but all unmistakably with the Jo McCafferty stamp on them.

So hit 'Play', but don’t wander off to pour a drink, or you’ll miss the opener, "Brick by Brick". This is the first of a couple of really short tracks on this CD, but the brevity doesn’t take anything way, this wakes you up like a hot espresso. From here, we are straight in to "Confession" which sets the tone for much of what follows, a contrast of introspection and catharsis.

Further in, we get a track in Romanian "Chiar Daca Ma Duareh". Surely it’s not an attempt to crack the lucrative Romanian market? Maybe its because this is just too personal, or maybe it’s a way to hide something? But it doesn’t matter, the fact that my Romanian is about as good as my Martian makes the voice like another instrument that weaves a pattern around the guitar.

At first listen, or first read of the lyrics, this might seem a melancholy collection, for use when you’re on a downer and want to know that someone else is feeling it, too. But listen again and you’ll find its much more than that. These songs can be defiant, independent, determined and above all positive.

Its hard to pick the best songs from this CD, but some of the highlights for me are:
All this time. A story of sympathy for someone left behind.
This good love. A happy song!
Opalesque. This one paints a vivid picture of a relationship with the sea, one that’s constant over the years while all around is changing. The characters may change over time, but the memories are constant.
Cave. This is almost the title track, and sees Jo moving to the piano stool. That change is stark and instantly draws you in closer to the extra depth of sound that the piano provides. And maybe that’s what this song is about – "Everyone gets low sometimes", and maybe the best thing you can do is go through the papercuts and lime to help who’s in there. Or maybe they really do just want to be left alone. You can make your own decision when you buy it.

Thanks to Gareth 'Taff' Jones for this review via email...