Reviewed by Tom Lennie

Lucy Bunce is a Cambridge-based harpist and singer with a working background in music. This, her debut album, is essentially a duo effort; Lucy on harp and vocals and producer Julian Wiggins on flute, clarinet, saxophone and keyboards. The delicate textures they individually fashion weave together gorgeously, being overlaid with Lucy's wispy vocals - distinctive in sound, pure and clear as fresh spring air. These are inspirational folk sounds with hints of Celtic and very brief glimmerings of jazz. Only one song is self-composed - the delightful "Shadow Of The Almighty" based on Psalm 91. The others are selected carefully, lyrics rich with poetic imagery; tunes comprising soft melodic tones. Thus there's a '60s Dylan song ("Boots Of Spanish Leather"), two tunes penned by Kate Rusby - a significant influence in Lucy's music - and a refashioning of Havergal's "Take My Life". A thread of Celtic spiritually runs through the set, but it's subtle and thoughtful rather than loud and controlling. All in all, 'May The Rain Fall Softly' is a beautiful debut.

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