Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Almost the most perfect gift to celebrate or show appreciation, to display genuine remorse, to hide sins and outrages, those colourful gems of the natural world that has its own language, that are integral to the spells of witches, cared for and studied by botanists, and for every artist, poet, and songwriter, it is the staple, the foundation of their craft which adds beauty to the lyric and the line alike.
Gone To Flowers is its own language, one created by the delightful thoughts and reasoning of Amy Hopwood, and as the new album from the community driven, psychological inspired and interactive musician, and the overriding feeling is one of contentment and serenity, of communal pride and responsibility to the fringes and the passion of the majority at all times.
Involving musicians such as Sherida Katerina, Stuart Faulkner, Tobias Raabe, and Coralie Hopwood on certain tracks, Amy Hopwood’s presentation of faith in the Folk tradition stands out as exemplary and destined, and with such immensity of thought that Gone To Flowers exhibits everything you could ask for from the genre.
Having already caught the ear with the tremendous single of I’d Rather Be Older (Than Dead), which involved the backing singing and chorus like appeal of all at the Sailor’s Return session (part of the Wessex Folk Festival) and a group of colleagues in Janne, Clair, Terri, and Darren, the album’s touch of finesse is greatly enhanced with tracks such as Breadcrumbs, It Doesn’t Matter Now, the wonderful She Became A Bird, Igor Potemkin Meets Bayun The Cat, The Closest Thing To Holding Hands, and the finale of East Of The Sun And West Of The Moon, Amy Hopwood has crafted an album of sheer engagement and enjoyability, of woven words that are poetic, fulfilling, and homely. There is in effect no greater strength than pure observation turned into art.
Gone To Flowers is an album of growth, of abundance, and sincerity, it harks back an age of wistful cool and serenity, whilst all the time packing a punch of recognition, of valuing the strength in community. This is Amy Hopwood once more proclaiming fierceness with a deft touch, and it is truly inspiring.
Ian D. Hall