I guess I’ve learned never to expect the predictable from Emily D’Angelo (except for the black clothes and boots).  Her new album; freezing, is as unexpected as enargeia was four years ago.  This album is even less “classical”.  The seventeen tracks cover a range of genres.  I think I’d classify them as contemporary art song, traditional folk song, singer/songwriter covers and English renaissance.  All in all there is a total of 47 minutes of music.

The interesting thing is that D’Angelo has a really appropriate vocal style at her disposal for the different genres.  When she sings, for example, “Cold Blows the Wind” she does it with the metrical and expressive freedom a traditional singer would use.  But, of course, she has the range and control to sing art song; whether contemporary or 16th/17th century.  She can manage the latter with a very clean, vibrato free, sound while more current material such as a couple of Cecilia Livingston songs and the Glass piece that gives the album its title get a more contemporary sound.

She’s accompanied by Sophia Muñoz (piano), Bruno Helstroffer (guitar) and Jonas Niederstadt (bass) in various arrangements.  It’s mostly just guitar for the folkie stuff and the Dowland/Purcell with more complex arrangements for the contemporary pieces but “Cold Blows the Wind” gets a really sppoky setting for bass and synth.  ll up, it’s a very varied and rewarding album.

The recording was made at Klanghaus am See / Klanghaus Tonstudio and is quite bright and resonant with really excellent bass extension.  It will be released on August 30th 2024 as digital only; MP3 and standard CD res FLAC, ALAC and WAV (I listened to the WAV).  At time of writing I don’t have access to a digital booklet and I’ve heard mixed messages about whether there is one.  I’ll update when I know more.  But it doesn’t really matter as all the texts are clearly audible.

Catalogue information: Deutsche Grammophon 4866571