Heather Findlay Band - I Am Snow album review

Wintery themes paint a delightful seasonal picture

Cover art for Heather Findlay Band I Am Snow

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Writing as someone who would willingly take an axe to any Christmas tree hoisted aloft in November, it’s a measure of the quality of the material here that I Iisten to Heather Findlay’s new seasonal release and am filled with images of winter overtaking autumn, trees losing their leaves as a chill fills the air, rather than bellowing ‘Humbug’!

But then the key word here is ‘seasonal’, for The Jethro Tull Christmas Album this is not, even if Findlay happily wields her trusty flute! Despite prog’s long standing and largely excellent connection with Christmas tunes, most of these songs dwell in a snow-decked woodland, not around a Christmas tree. Each of the nine songs are captivating and expertly deployed, highlighting Findlay’s affection for folkier themes. The title track and Bitterness Burnt glow like a warm fire, and covers of Fotheringay’s Winter Winds and Mostly Autumn’s The Eyes Of The Forest add to the appeal. Best however, is the stunning reworking of the latter’s Shrinking Violet, that captures both the fragility and power of Findlay’s talent in one eight and a half minute swoop, making this the perfect accompaniment for the upcoming Yuletide season.

Jerry Ewing

Writer and broadcaster Jerry Ewing is the Editor of Prog Magazine which he founded for Future Publishing in 2009. He grew up in Sydney and began his writing career in London for Metal Forces magazine in 1989. He has since written for Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vox, Stuff and Bizarre magazines, among others. He created and edited Classic Rock Magazine for Dennis Publishing in 1998 and is the author of a variety of books on both music and sport, including Wonderous Stories; A Journey Through The Landscape Of Progressive Rock.