Holly Arrowsmith: Blue Dreams (digital outlets)

Because Holly Arrowsmith has appeared a number of times at Elsewhere – reviewed and in recent and archive interviews – we hope we can skim lightly over a lot of background, it is there in those interviews.

But briefly then . . .

Born in Santa Fe and raised in the South Island, Holly Arrowsmith arrived with her 2015 debut album For the Weary Traveller which picked up folk album of the year.

In May, the folk-rock Desert Dove on this third album won APRA's best country song award (her second win), the title track and Neon Bright (the latter ironically like an olden times campfire song, Delaney Davidson and others in the video) were among Rolling Stone's best new songs of the week.

Acknowledgment as a country and folk artist indicates her stylistic breadth, and with references to Catalina (in Desert Dove), the prairie (the haunting Something Small) and the observed detail on Night Flight, she has geographical reach in her imagery also.

As with Mel Parsons, Arrowsmith has an understated, sometimes world-weary delivery in mid-tempo material, but also brings a compelling presence like the young Joni Mitchell in the weaving melody and arresting intimacy of Mountain Lion.

Produced by band member Tom Healy (Bic Runga, Marlon Williams), cleverly arranged (Could've Been a River) and with serious lyrics tapping resonant observations in life, Blue Dreams is – like an Aldous Harding album -- a slow grower collection of crafted, poetic songs.

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You can hear and buy this album at bandcamp here