DARIA KULESH
MotherLand
MotherLand is an album full of humanity. From the intimacy of a lullaby the unconditional love, fierce protectiveness and the hopes and fears of a mother for her infant child, through a wish for peace and for collective action to bring it about, toa triumphant cover of Dylan‘s Masters Of War in which she conveys despair, anger and contempt in appropriate measure.
The humanity extends to her storytelling, whether they are personal, as in her tale of a return over the seas to Skye, to revisit an earlier stage of her life, or the story telling of a strong willed, unconventional Cossack woman who became a legendary leader, fearless even when confronting her own impending death.
Speaking of fearless, there is also bravery about the album, in that Daria is unafraid to include songs delivered in her native Russian, where other than through the album notes, as most of us are unaware of the meaning of the words, the focus is shifted onto enjoying the quality and delivery of the singing.
The focus on the voice as an instrument, albeit a very effective one is also a reflection on the overall musical quality of the album. Daria has assembled around her a cast of musicians who deliver the quality the carefully selected material deserves, whether this be the self-penned, the carefully curated, or those adapted from various traditions, as with the songstress herself, the varied contents of the album provide considerable delights, never short of interesting and always with a touch of the exotic. There are of course both musical and lyrical nods to her Russian and Ingush heritage and roughout the CD and the title of the album is also reflection of this with the two words of the title separated and reflecting on two distinct features of her life, the transfer to another country/culture and the experience of motherhood. It may be one to ponder over but if you get the chance to see Daria, it would be an interesting conversation to have.
An album of fabulously varying delights, making up a satisfying whole. Go and find it!
PS Club organisers – Daria rarely seems to visit our region, I am sure she would love to be invited, solo, or with her singing sisters from other mothers, Karen Pfieffer and Odette Michelle – previously much praised on these pages!
