A large part of the thrill of Shirley Collins' 2016 album Lodestar was the fact it existed at all. A combination of dysphonia and a severe loss of confidence had led the iconic British folk singer to retreat from music beyond a few guest spots on recordings with Current 93. Collins hadn't recorded an album of her own since the late '70s until organizing the home recording sessions that led to Lodestar. It was a more than welcome return from an artist whose career seemed to be over, and it also reawakened Collins' belief in her own talents. Emboldened by the enthusiastic reception Lodestar received, Collins went into a recording studio with the same group of musicians (led by Ian Kearey of Oysterband) and returned with 2020's Heart's Ease, an even stronger and more satisfying collection of songs. Like Lodestar, Heart's Ease is the work of a singer more than 80 years old, and the passage of time has corrupted the clarity of Collins' instrument. However, her sense of phrasing and the authority she brings to songs from the traditional folk canon remain impressive, and here she sounds like the éminence grise of British folk, masterful and eloquent even when her voice betrays her age. Heart's Ease lacks the audio vireté feel of Lodestar (with the occasional sounds of the outside world bleeding into the microphones), trading it for the clarity and control of a recording studio, and Collins' performance more than compensates for any warmth that has been lost along the way; she finds enough joy and tragedy in these songs (many readily familiar to folk enthusiasts) to give them new life despite often being centuries old. Ian Kearey and his musicians have lent Collins exemplary support, adding to the gravity and atmosphere of the songs while never intruding on the vocals. And the closing track, "Crowlink," is a true surprise, a droning experimental piece married to a distant yet powerful vocal that honors her gifts while putting them in a fresh, original context. Lodestar was a joyous reminder that Shirley Collins hadn't truly gone away. Heart's Ease goes further, revealing she's still a vital performer and an artist willing to explore new and unfamiliar territory, suggesting a more interesting future than listeners might have imagined. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

1		The Merry Golden Tree
2		Rolling in the Dew
3		The Christmas Song
4		Locked in Ice
5		Wondrous Love
6		Barbara Allen
7		Canadee - I - O
8		Sweet Greens and Blues
9		Tell Me True
10		Whitsun Dance
11		Orange in Bloom
12		Crowlink

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