Heather Nova is back. The singer-songwriter released her tenth studio album Pearl on 28th June 2019. She especially has a fanbase in Germany, so that there was certain focus on her release. Due to the parallel Runaway June album release, this review is slightly delayed.
Heather Nova – About the Artist
Heather Nova is likely the most famous Bermudian musician. The singer-songwriter born in 1967 published her first EP in 1990. The latest album, Pearl, is also a reminescence to Oyster, an album which Nova published 25 years ago. Oyster also featured her commerically most successful track Walk This World. My favorite song of her is London Rain, which has been published on the following album, Siren.
https://youtu.be/D8lT5yX1MhU
Heather Nova – Pearl – Track by Track
Heather Nova takes you on a 47 minute Pearl journey split into eleven songs.
1. The Wounds We Bled
All the things I wish I’d known
The willow weeps where the seeds are thrown
All the things I wish I’d said
I’m better for the wounds we bled
I love this first track of the album – maybe the best on Pearl. Heather Nova is just that incredibly present in her songs – and she is writing wonderful stories. Great start of her 2019 one.
2. All the Rivers
All The Rivers has a significantly increased presence of the guitars. Overall, the song is also faster. Nice lyrics as well:
It’s a fire
It’s the way it grows when you feed it
It’s a fire
Love the way you love me and the way I need it
3. Rewild Me
Rewild Me is a lovely ballad, starting with a long instrumental part. Just having some electric guitars and the accords of the acoustic one – on top Heather’s voice. There is this “Wow”-potential in this song. I just enjoy listening to her.
4. Some Things Just Come Undone
Some Things Just Come Undone might not be the best track of the album, but it feels very “central” and important to me. Thus, I also selected the acoustic video track here.
5. After All This Time
The structural plot of After All This Time is similar to Rewild Me: a long instrumental and a focus on Heather’s vocals. However, there are some additional orchestral instruments – which add a lot here, though they are playing in the background. Great chorus:
I don’t want to shut my eyes
I’m open to the pain that might be coming
This is what I never thought I’d find
Real love, after all this time
6. Over the Fields
I struggled a bit with Over The Fields, as it is after Rewild Me and After All This Time, which follows a similar plot. I first liked the other two songs more. But the more you listen into it, the more you love the amazing storytelling of this song, which is an amazing farewell poem:
And all apologies and all the damage done
Somehow you never found the key
It’s coming to you now as you head into the sun
7. Just Kids
Not that surprsing that this song has been released before the album already. Just Kids is just catchy. A great song, absolutely worth listening.
8. Don’t Worry What the Experts Say
Cause I want what you want
And we don’t have time to figure out
What everything is all about
If it feels good then it is good
And don’t worry what the experts say
I’m gonna love you anyway
A nice ballad about love, in which other people do not believe.
9. See Yourself
Though it is a nice story and strong lyrics, I did not get into See Yourself too much.
10. Vincent
Another very fragile Heather Nova song. Nice to listen to.
11. Your Words
Of course, there is a lovesong at the very end of the album. Quite “classic” Heather Nova stuff 🙂 Good!
Heather Nova – Pearl – My View
Congrats, Heather Nova – Pearl is – again – a really good album from you! You may need some time to get into it, but I just love to listen to Heather’s stories, listen to her voice and enjoy the quite puristic songwriting. Heather Nova’s 2019 might not be the album of the century or an absolute masterpiece, but it is much more than just a pretty solid album. If you liked some of the videos above. I feel that you will not regret buying the CD or purchasing the download.
Heather Nova – On Tour
Heather Nova is most popular in Europe in Germany. You also see that in her 2019 tour dates:
Sun 13.10.2019 | Paris (FR), Cafe de la Danse | |
Mon 14.10.2019 | Zurich (CH), Volkshaus | |
Tue 15.10.2019 | Vienna (AT), Porgy & Bess | |
Wed 16.10.2019 | Prague (CZ), Lucerna Music Bar | |
Fri 18.10.2019 | Leipzig, Hauen Auensee | |
Sat 19.10.2019 | Hamburg, Fabrik | |
Sun 20.10.2019 | Stuttgart, Wizemann | |
Tue, 22.10.2019 | Den Haag (NL), Paard Main Hall | |
Web 23.10.2019 | Utrecht (NL), Tivoli Vredenburg | |
Thu 24.10.2019 | Alkmaar (NL), Victorie Kormuitzaal | |
Tue 29.10.2019 | Nuremberg, Löwensaal | |
Wed 30.10.2019 | Munich, Technikum | |
Thu 31.10.2019 | Berlin, Huxleys | |
Fri 01.11.2019 | Cologne, Gloria | |
Sat 02.11.2019 | Braunschweig, Westand | |
Sun 03.11.2019 | Copenhagen (DK), DR Studie 2 |
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