Listening to Hannah Aldridge's "Razorwire", ten years on from its original release is something of a revelation. It's not as good as it seemed back then in 2014, it's better, as if it has aged like a fine wine. It still sounds bright, and fresh and now repackaged for an anniversary release and tour. There are songs of love, of loss and real social comment with tunes that can veer between the gentlest acoustic number through to some quite grungy guitar - there really is something for everyone. Holding it altogether are Hannah's vocals which in turn can be so tender that you almost wish to weep, scathing to the point that you hope they are not being directed at you and vividly real as she inhabits the skin of a woman on death row. It is an album that rewards the listener on first play and simply keeps on giving.
From the opening Off mic "I'm good when you are", the drumstick count in and we are into "Yankee Bank", the 2024 version of "Razorwire" has a different running order and this is one of the tunes that did not make the original version that now has new vocals. It is a sumptuous opening, the fiddle the accordion and the powerful percussion are beautifully captured.
The acoustic opening to "Lie Like you Love Me" with it's arresting opening lines are devastatingly brutal.
"I miss you like morphine straight to my veins
I know I shouldn't be here but I'm here anyway
I swear I'll be gone when the sun hits your eyes
If you don't mind lie like you love me tonight"
The years have not diminished it's power and Hannah's delivery just gives additional layers of realism to an already rich text.
What was the opening track and lead single of the previous version "You Ain't Worth The Fight" is now placed fourth in the running order. It is another track rich with instrumentation, the incessant guitar sound, the rich organ sound all topped by Hannah's healthy disdain in her delivery. It was the song that first brought Hannah to our attention and punches as hard as it did then.
"Razorwire" is the gift that keeps on giving, and never more so than on "Parchman", where Hannah takes on the persona of someone on death row. The strength of this song along made #TEAMw21 invest 3 hours of tv viewing seeing the brutal reality of its prison regime. Once again Hannah is able to really to take on the persona of the narrator, it is the essence of what Americana does best and is truly moving.
The final track the acoustic "Lonesome" is as beautiful as it is sad, delivered in a sort of breathy whisper with a recurring gently picked guitar refrain, you almost catch your breath for fear of interrupting Hannah such is the mood crated- the final pay off line of "both ways" delivered as barely a whisper after a short intake of breath is simply magical. Simply dip in and play any of these tracks and you'll realise why you need to see this particular tour.
Hannah Aldridge is touring "Razorwire" throughout October - a chance to see a remarkable lady play a quite stunning album as well as dipping into other albums from her catalogue
UK TOUR DATES
