Gregory And The Hawk

Meredith Godreau became Gregory (named after her brother) and the Hawk (his imaginary friend) to deflect knee-jerk tendencies to file her beside other wispy singer-songwriters. Her sweet vocal style still puts a mark in that column but also has a simmering quality that recalls Blake Babies era Juliana Hatfield. The music that enfolds Moenie and Kitchi isn't revved up in any way though, leaning towards a quirky stateliness that wobbles off-centre. Godreau's acoustic guitar figures nestle between Nick Drake and the circular ebb of Joanna Newsom. On "Stone Wall Stone Fence" these undulations rise and dip like a rocking horse, occasionally spooked by the eruption of drums and ghost whispers of radios. She disappears into the pulsing machinery of "Ghost" only to come out spare, strong and shiny in "Super Legend." You might start out thinking it's another case of "little girl lost" but G&TH will show you a strong animal not lost but nesting in these particular woods.