EP review: After It's Said & Done by Faith Evans Ruch

Tennesseean Faith Evans Ruch seems like she harks from a bygone era of American country music: the era when melancholy was allowed without transforming itself into whingeing; when a knockout voice was left alone to impress and wasn't annihilated by meaningless lyrics. Too harsh an assessment? Maybe. Or maybe I've just heard enough overproduced tracks to become weary. Which is why Evans Ruch sounds like an antidote and a respite all at the same time.

Having said that, her voice is actually such a knockout in terms of power, range, versatility and nuance that her simple accompaniment on this EP - an acoustic guitar - actually doesn't sound strong enough. She needs more, because she deserves more. She sounds like she should have a big band - of that Big Band era - because that's as many instruments as it will take to match her. This is not meant to sound like a complaint - because it's not; it's an encouragement, hopefully, to any lurking ambitious big band leaders out there to track her down and really bring back that bygone era. There aren't a lot of voices around like this - not just accomplished but distinctive. And that's a persuasive reason to listen to anything Evans Ruch produces.

After It's Said & Done is out now.
faithevansruch.com