Isabel Pine – Fables – Album Review
by Killian Laher

Isabel Pine is a Canadian violinist and composer who has released some EPs before this, her debut album.  It’s a pretty wintry affair, evidenced by the lonely violin that introduces the opening track Wolves.  Winnow belongs on some soundtrack or other, while Untitled/Kindled/Waxing is the sound of exquisite loneliness turned up to 10, brought on by the violin and strings.

The gentle Snow is very zen and evocative of its title; it’s impossible not to picture snowscapes of the sort depicted on the album cover.  The collection becomes almost serene with A Flickering Light and Sun Dog; nothing is overplayed, every note seems to belong.  After the wintry violin scrapings of Hollow and the moody violin piece Moonlight, it ends with the glorious sunlit sound of Butterfly Lands On A Flower.  This last track might be the finest thing here, highly immersive, almost like the more tranquil moments of Spiritualized.

A gorgeous meditative album, well worth your time.  It’s available from https://isabelpine.bandcamp.com/album/fables

A Flickering Light