Hailey Calvert – In The Hour Of The Wolf

Hailey Calvert’s stunning new album “In The Hour Of The Wolf”!! This album is a tour de force – from the maturity of the songwriting (any song that starts ‘I think I was a soldier in a past life/and I used up all my bravery the first time’ has me from the get go) to the complex and thoughtful arrangements, but most importantly, the voice!! Sounding at times like she’s channeling Aretha Franklin, at other times like Sinead O’Connor (circa ‘Nothing Compares 2U’), and plowing similar musical furrows to contemporaries Katie Noonan & Kate Miller-Heidke, this is an extraordinary vocal talent. What is equally awe-inspiring are the backing vocal arrangements/performances – varied to meet the needs of each song, but again quite breathtaking (no pun intended) in arrangement & density, involving no doubt endless hours of studio performances.

Unlike earlier albums, this is almost entirely a keyboard/synth/electronica album – only one song features Hailey’s excellent acoustic guitar chops (‘City or Country’), and even that features a vinyl sample to kick things off. In short, an extremely contemporary production aesthetic, which I enjoyed immensely. Although most of the material has detailed and expansive arrangements, I particularly enjoyed ‘Quiet’ – a more low key arrangement that could sit on repeat all day on my stereo!! All this from an independent artist who lives and records in Brisbane – we are blessed with such talent in our midst. You can buy the album at www.haileycalvertmusic.com, and check out her upcoming performances, which include a stint at the 2016 Woodford Folk Festival.