Tim's House

This British folksinger from the tiny fishing village of Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex, issued a debut album, <i>Clocktower Park</i>, in 2003 that received little notice but did nothing to stop Walsh from continuing her pursuit with a MySpace page and the support of producer Tim Bidwell, whose “house” served as her second album’s recording studio and album title. Bidwell keeps things simple, understanding that Walsh’s pure voice is what draws people in. Primarily, this is acoustic guitar and voice, with melodies that float above the standard progressions and underline Walsh’s deep, emotional commitment, as “Your Song” (no relation to the Elton John tune), “Talk of the Town,” “Don’t Break My Heart” and “Tonight” are straight from the heart pleas that nearly every young songwriter attempts, but few pull off with such poise and natural beauty. Strings appear in occasional doses (“Betty”). “Bury My Head” double-tracks her vocals for a sweet, dreamlike swirl that reaches to falsetto for its vulnerable spots. “French Song” uses a small band ensemble for an extra rhythmic bump. <i>Tim’s House</i> is a collection of little moments that expand with repeated listening.