Gerda Stevenson is best-known as a Scottish actor and writer who often takes on musical roles (including playing Martyn Bennett’s folk-singing mum in last year’s much-praised production of Grit), but she comes from a family of musicians, so it’s perhaps not surprising that she should embark on a new career as a singer-songwriter. Her debut album consists entirely of self-written material, and it’s notable for the quality of her vocal work, and for the storytelling skills in her wildly varied songs. It’s an odd mixture, including a novelty piece about living in an igloo and a finger-clicking love song, If My Car Was Automatic. But then there’s an exquisite lament, It’s Ower, which has the power of a great Scottish ballad, a finely constructed weepie, Astronaut’s Waltz, and – best of all – All the Prayer, a charming hymn recommended to those who distrust organised religion but love curlews.
