Reviewed by Richard Dawson

Born in the heart of the American desert, in Santa Fe, New Mexico and raised in the mountains of Southern New Zealand, Holly Arrowsmith is a songwriter and is at the forefront in New Zealand's current folk revivalist movement. With sound comparisons to the likes of Joni Mitchell and Gillian Welch, Holly touches upon the earnest matters of life, wrapped in metaphors of nature and the soothing mountain environment that raised her. "Desert Owl" for me has more of a country twang and features one of the best lyrics on the album, "My mind is worn and my body's tired/Peace like a river extend to me and carry my feet on by". The title track is my favourite, despite being the shortest song on the set, it was the one I engaged most with as she sings about whatever struggles you face there is always hope and you are able to find positivity in whatever you are going through. After initially struggling to listen to the album, a number of tracks have connected with me. If you're a folk roots enthusiast, Holly is a singer/songwriter you'll want to investigate.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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