Heather's Melodic Nunnery

Bruce Von Stiers

Heather Lynne Horton is a great singer and songwriter who just happens to be a terrific violinist. She has just released a new album titled Get Me to a Nunnery.

The album has ten original songs. It was released on the Paper Sky Records label.

Horton's husband, Michael McDermott was on guitar, keys, piano and bass. He also co-produced the album with Horton and engineered it.

John Deaderick was on piano, keys, and organ. He has toured with Michael McDonald and recorded with Emmylou Harris. He plays bass for The Bees band and keyboards for the band Daddy. Matt Thompson was on electric and upright bass. Steven Gillis was on drums and mixed four of the songs on the album. Deaderick, Thompson and Gillis played on St. Paul's Boulevard, McDermott's album from last year that I also reviewed.

Will Kimbrough was on baritone guitar. He has produced other artists' music and played on several others, including some by one of my favorite artists, Jessy Terry. And he's in the band Daddy with John Deaderick.

Horton does the vocals and plays guitar and violin.

Horton's music has been called ethereal and a melodic utopia. I would kind of agree with those statements. There is something beautiful yet somewhat almost haunting in Horton's vocals.

After All This Time is the first song. It is a great song about not really knowing someone, even they've been together for quite some time. And maybe not wanting to really know them better.

I Don't Like Your Children is interesting. It is partially about how younger people don't respect the elderly. And how they have their own opinions, often vocal about things adults are afraid to say. The song has a toe-tapping drum beat and fluid vocals.

Ten Times is a melodic song that has some of the ethereal vocals that I mentioned earlier. It deals with women trying to get ahead in a world dominated by men.

Call A Spade A Spade has a terrific violin intro. It moves into a slow and haunting sound. Tired of being put down and no longer being afraid is central to the theme of the song.

Beatrix is a soft and gentle song that made me think of a melodic choir solo.

Other songs on the album include Sunset Marigold, You Said So and Take Off.

Six Foot has a bit of alt folk tone. Horton's vocals are enjoyable and there is a subtle guitar that emphasizes the lyrics.

Lin's Never-Ending Song is the final song on the album. It is strictly an instrumental song focusing on Horton's violin expertise. As much as I enjoyed the vocals on the other songs, I think that this one is my favorite of the album.

The central theme throughout the album seems to be that, although we've made great strides in things, the world is still pretty much the same. Horton has stated that the album highlights systemic oppression and that she wanted to “bring uncomfortable ideas into conversation through the medium of music.” I believe that the songs on this album do indeed reflect those ideas.

Take Me to a Nunnery is a great album. Not only does it bring forth thought provoking sentiment, the vocals and music on the songs are terrific. And I really did enjoy the violin music, especially in the final song on the album.

Take Me to a Nunnery is available now.

To find out more about the album, visit Heather Lynne Horton's official website at https://www.heatherhortonmusic.com/

Back to the BVS Reviews Main Menu

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _

© 2023 Bruce E Von Stiers