Ruth Minnikin [review]
"Just listening to Ruth Minnikin, to her latest album, Marooned & Blue. The title track impresses me, right to the last note. Ruth shapes the vocal lines so beautifully and inventively. My interest is sustained throughout. The same goes for Horsetail Clouds, perhaps the farthest away from her folk roots and the closest to pure tone poem, sonorously rich with a compelling mix of acoustic instruments and electronica. On Thursday she performed for Healthy Concerts in Brighton and one of the high points for me was hearing a Live rendition of her EP title track, Maiden Voyage. This song is, in my view, a miniature masterpiece. The narrative is strong and I`m right there with the crew on that boat! Apparently it`s a metaphor for her band`s first time on the road. Together through trials and tribulations, one senses the power of essential bonding rituals, such as breaking the bread and drinking the wine! The melodic development is excellent and I love the alternation between soulful solo vocal lead and jubilant choral harmony. I fully expect to find the song in a book in the local music shop one day." - author Paul Chi