Megan Henwood - River

The Guardian 80

(Dharma)

Megan Henwood is “folk” in the same way as Laura Marling, meaning she’s a singer-songwriter with an acoustic guitar. As on her previous two albums, River also comes with a backdrop of low-key electronica courtesy of producer Tom Excell, jazzy bass and cello and, a new addition, a wistful trumpet on Fresh Water, a standout among a fine set of songs. Affairs of the heart are upfront on House on the Hill, and The Dolly pays tribute to her current hometown, Oxford, but Henwood’s lyrics are more often allusive, given drama by a voice that slips easily between registers. A worldly, mature work that deserves a wider audience.