Review: Ida - My Fair, My Dark EP

Posted on 3 October 2008 | No Comments

Filed Under: Album Reviews, Folk

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I love New York’s Ida; they are an amazing band and have released an amazing new 8-song mini-album My Fair, My Dark that is a really excellent counterpoint and companion piece to their really excellent album Lovers Prayers from earlier this year. It was recorded in a barn in Woodstock, NY (while the band was also recording Lovers Prayers) and features covers of songs by John & Beverly Martyn, Dolly Parton, Annie Briggs, David Schickele, and Warn Defever plus two new originals and an amazing and somewhat raw rendition of “Late Blues” that just sounds like magic caught on tape. Overall, My Fair, My Dark finds the band sounding a little more country-folk than usual but (even so) they don’t really stray too far from the Ida I’ve grown to know and love. There is Dan Littleton’s amazingly delicate guitar and the gorgeous vocal harmonies the band is known for as well as guest contributions from the likes of Tara Jane O’Neill and The Band’s Levon Helm. It’s not exactly where I’d tell an Ida newbie to start, but My Fair, My Dark is certainly a welcome addition to the band’s catalog. You can get the mini-album now from Polyvinyl Records on beautiful 180 gram vinyl.

MP3 | Ida – Road To Ruin My Fair, My Dark EP