With just a pair of releases, Vera Sola has earned a reputation for the resonant atmosphere she sets. One that fills you with both helplessness and hope, pain and peace, wistfulness and wonder. Striking at the conjunction of a downtrodden ego and an upbeat soul, on Peacemaker, she carries the full weight of her emotions in tow. Bringing them to the forefront with powerful vocals that carry a striking performance backed by instrumentation that delivers the mood precisely.

Standout Tracks: Bad Idea, The Line, I'm Lying, Desire Path

With a sound that is often ethereal, sometimes grounded, and never stale, Vera Sola applies a fresh and personal feeling to a genre that is often written off as basic. Though nothing about her performances can be described as such. In fact they are often just the opposite, with a backing to her tracks providing the sonic undertones to carry her intent, she holds a presence to her voice that modulates vividly from fleeting to forceful.

It's hard to put into words the mood this album sets. Not bland or boring, but instead something a bit more bleak. A vivid image of a meadow transformed to black and white. An artistic choice that often produces beautiful images where one might not have looked, but at times can feel like you are overwhelmed by that environment. Drowning in the sea of melancholy pushed forth constantly, reaching out for a breath of fresh air. Even on the tracks with a pacier tempo and feel, like The Line, you still get a heavy dose of somber sadness from Sola's singing. To a point where a bit of a change in style would feel welcome, or even just a smaller serving of the same dish. For example, on Blood Bond, the penultimate track, the guitar and drums pick up the pace and the distortion feels raw and real. Yet, you get the same clarity and crispness from Vera's voice that she shows on the somber songs earlier on. Instead, this is where the real grit should come out, as otherwise, the picture is just a bit too perfect. Too meticulous and clean. When you convey emotion of that level it's supposed to look ugly. Harsh. Stilted. But instead the delivery doesn't carry that weight and realness, and it lessens the impact of the melody.

Overall though, the energy this album brings is surely welcome, even if it overstays its own a bit. The passion on display is hard to ignore, and for the most part, it's presented authentically and auspiciously. The arrangements are expertly crafted, and they place you in the mind of the artist with ease. To the point you can physically feel the tension as it builds, and you embrace the relief that comes when it's set loose.

Final Verdict: in the rotation - as an early example of the year in store for folk music, this is an introspective piece that could serve as both an accessible entry point into the genre for newbies or an artful submission to the cache of seasoned vets