Product Description

Debut album of pastoral folk-rock from Hertfordshire all-girl quartet. A collision of influences as diverse as Jane Siberry, Prince, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, John Coltrane and Stevie Wonder; they mix up folk with jazzy arrangements and funky beats. Recorded by Smiths/Cranberries producer Stephen Street.

Track Listing

1. I
2. Sometimes You Do That
3. Fight Me Fear Me
4. You
5. Put Me In A Boat
6. More Than I Could Ask For
7. Peace Of Mind
8. If
9. Sacrifice
10. Wishing I Was Little
11. Something About Whistling
12. Stone

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #177540 in Music
• Released on: 2001-11-05
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Outstanding Debut Album
The dedicated core of fans of this innovative group have long awaited this album and
it has been worth the wait. A wonderful collection of songs, some of which are very
up-tempo catchy tunes, others being introspective, slower, bordering on melancholic.
But what The Bush, The Tree And Me (BTM) excel at is good, intelligent arrangements, both
instrumentally and vocally and all executed with the right sensitivity to the mood of
each of the songs.

Where BTM do break the mould is in their line-up of instruments:
acoustic guitar (no surprise there then),
clarinet (what?? Acker Bilk "stranger on the shore territory?? Yes, same instrument,
but no!! not going in his direction musically)
and cello (eh? classical-music stringed-type instrument?? Yes, but it in no way sounds
out of place in this group, giving depth and great warmth when bowed but just as much
drive and vivacity as any bass guitar when the strings are plucked).
In interview, when asked "why?" with regard to choice of instruments, often asked in a
"have you got a point to prove" way - the answer has been consistent - they're the
instruments we just happen to play. So I personally think that this group ably shows
that you can write and play contemporary music on ANY instrument - even supposedly
un-hip classical ones.

Lyrically, the songs span all sorts of styles, for example the song "I" is harshly
addressed accusingly to a boyfriend (who, if he wasn't "ex" at the time probably was
shortly after). "Put me in a boat" has a daydream-like quality, the lyrics being like
the thoughts that drift through your head just before you drop off to dreamland.
"Wishing I Was Little" I think has been included on the album as a thank-you to the
fans who have followed this group for a number of years, as the song has been in
their stage set for at least five years and I think may have been written when the
girls were as young as 15 or 16 - but listen to the sophistication of the harmonies!!

Don't try and pigeon-hole these talented young ladies - they'll defy you at every turn!
And however they choose to show that defiance - musically, it'll be defiance worth
listening to........

as good as the band's live performances
This is an album that is simply a joy to listen to. The band, who conform to almost nothing, play cello (Emma), acoustic guitar (Belinda), clarinet/keyboards/percussion (Natalie) plus a drummer helps them along a bit, show off to great effect their divine singer! Paula Cox is she, and is the best British singer I've heard since Harriet Wheeler of the Sundays. With a vocal style that is akin to Harriet one minute, almost Bjork-like the next, but always recognisable as her own, the songs leap out at you, demanding attention. Sacrifice, with its sublime harmonies with the other girls (who can also sing a bit too!), is my fave track; Something About Whistling veritably rocks (especially live); the single '(Sometimes) You Do That' is one of the singles of the year - it goes on. Its the sort of album that you get more out of the more you play it - which is what you want from an album in my opinion. As satisfying and pleasing a piece of work as I've heard all year.
See them play live - you'll be captured too!
DaveM

A definate grower. Give it a chance, you won't regret it
On first listen this album didn't impress. I first became aware of the band when i saw part of the video for "(Sometimes) You Do That" on MTV2. I've been waiting for the release of the album ever since, and there i was on the first day of release, cash in hand. So you could say i was more expectant than the average Joe. In the car on the way home i found myself skipping tracks a little, but then i sat down and listened properly...

The first reason that "How To Get Home" (and indeed the band's sound in general) is a grower is because of lead vocalist Paula Cox's accent. We're so used to people suppressing their natural accent and using that annoyingly bland mid-atlantic voice that it comes as a complete surprise when you can actually tell the vocalist is English. It makes a refreshing change and you will appreciate the sound, but it does take some getting used to. If you want a short review without reading below, then just leave this cd in your machine for a good few days, after that you'll find it tough to take it back out.

1) I
First tracks are vitally important to grab the listener, and "I" does very well. Starting with some strings (which is always going to draw me in), Paula comes in with bold vocals and is accompanied by a strong drum and subtle Clarinet melody. It's quite an angry, but that's no bad thing and it certainly wakes you up.

2) (Sometimes) You Do That
Second pre-album single and standout track. Acoustic guitar led and richly flowing. Refreshing lyrics and happy sound puts you back at ease. Just try hanging on to those notes as long as Paula, it's not easy. This song makes you smile.

3) Fight Me, Fear Me
At times almost sounding like a track from a 50s musical with it's rising action (i got that term from a Cake video) and "ba da bada" background vocals, this song is over almost as soon as it's begun but it leaves an impression.

4) You
The cello is back on this track which gives a lovely community spirit. I imagine this as a crowd favourite at gigs. It has a calming verse and a chorus which breaks out and gives the audience a change to suddenly start shouting back and bouncing up and down. Just when you think you might run out of energy a piano comes in for the bridge and plunks away instantly drawing a smile out of you tired face.

5) Put Me In A Boat
Strange lyrical arrangement makes this track harder to get than the music would suggest. Sometimes on this album the lead vocal is slightly too dominant and this is a good case in point. The balance is a bit off and the music and the vocal pull you in two different emotional directions. Whether that's a good or a bad thing is subjective.

6) More Than I Could Ask For
Takes you down to the place that the music from the previous track tried to take you to.
This is a fantastic track. It's single worthy, but I don't think it will be single. It's simple, but effective. Sometimes you don't need much to affect you. The Bush, The Tree and Me (or BTM as they are called by fans) know how to stop before gilding the lily.

7) Peace of Mind
Jumpy, Edgy, attention grabbing first single (well, track one on the E.P). Clarinet and vocal seem to almost be having a dance of combat as they weave around each other for 3 and a half minutes. You can tell this is the first single, it's designed to make you hear what every member of the group can do. From this, BTM gained their reputation as something a little different and rightly so, you won't have heard many songs like this this year.

8) If
"If" is like a chase song. It gets you right up. It grows and grows. The expectancy of the build is what gets you. You know it's going up, you know the sound will grow and you wait for it. It's really exciting, and has the kind of chorus everyone loves to burst out singing. When it's over you feel like you've experienced something.

9) Sacrifice
Absolutely beautiful song about the loss of a love. Double vocal tracked throughout to pull maximum emotion from the melodies. The cello pulls in exactly the right places whilst the bass feels like a heartbeat as you try to hold back the tears.

10) Wishing I Was Little
Natural follow on to "Sacrifice" in terms of theme. It's full of hope and potential, but awareness of the past. Full of voices, another great one to hear live is suspect, with most of the band singing at you while a happy percussion and guitar keeps pace. Deceptively complex.

11) Something About Whistling
The guitar is a little too similar to "Sometimes" for me, i find this track slightly disappointing. Maybe it just needs longer to grow on you. There's always a track on every album that just doesn't do it for you.

12) Stone
Another simple song with cunning vocal arrangement to pull as much saltwater from your eyes as possible before the band say goodbye. They almost seem apologetic for the work you've just listened to with a chorus of "is it everything you hoped it would be". Yes it is, and more. Thank you ladies. Come back soon.

Although i get suspicious when fans award 5 stars, I really thing this album deserves it. It is emotionally draining, but it's also like a splash in the face with ice-cold water. You won't forget the group or the album after listening to it, and you'll have trouble listening to banal teeny pop again i assure you. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself.