Mary Coughlan, Erik Visser - Scars on the Calendar (2015)

Tracklist

01. Blood
02. Chance Encounter
03. This Is Not a Song
04. Just in Time
05. Too Soon
06. Eoghanín
07. In Another World
08. What Can We Do?
09. A Girl's Got to Eat
10. I Miss You
11. Good to Go
12. Would You Do It All Again?



Reuniting with long-time collaborator Erik Visser ...It is the first album of new material since House Of Ill Repute (2008)
Scars On The Calendar features entirely new compositions from Coughlan, Hensey & Visser also 2 tracks from Mark Nevin (Fairground Attraction)

Mary Coughlan is an Irish jazz, blues and folk singer. She has received great critical acclaim for her emotional and heartfelt renditions. A lot has been written and a lot has been said, whispered, recounted, alleged, supposed and presumed. It’s all quite forgotten now and the songs remain the same, they remain a testament to Mary Coughlan’s seemingly timeless and endless talent. Her smoky, bluesy, boozy drawl has always been a seduction, no matter what the subject. The vocal marrying of sardonic wit, visceral rage, orgiastic between the sheets passion, the tenderest of sorrowful regrets- this is Mary’s talent. Regardless of the elements she chooses to manipulate with flawless ease, Mary’s voice has always been an unforeseen, sudden seduction. This is why she is so loved.

Throughout the over 25 years of her quite extraordinary recording career Mary has drawn heavily from her legendary heroes; Billie Holiday’s grievous, teary outpourings, the husky flirtations of Peggy Lee, Van Morrison’s soulful wails, the defiant chanteusery of Edith Piaf. All are present and correct in her delivery. Even so, Mary, with her naked honesty makes every song her own; they belong to her and nobody else. Who else could possibly present “Double Cross” or “Magdalene Laundry” or “The Ice Cream Man” with such dedication and effortless zeal?

The casual listener may know something of “Ancient Rain”, “Invisible To You” or maybe “Man Of The World”. These may well be among the greatest of Mary’s many great hits, however there is so much more to the story. How about an entire double album dedicated to her love of Billie Holiday. Billie died at 44, the age at which Mary performed songs from the album to sold-out venues and enraptured audiences at her “Lady Sings The Blues” shows staged in Dublin and London.

How about “Live In Galway”, Mary’s triumphant, if anxious, return from the brink to the stage in 1995. At the time she pleaded the venue to host the gig, having to repent for previously letting them down a little too frequently. She had become the “no-show”. Mary sold out 8 gigs in a row. Or “Live At The Basement” recorded in Sydney among an intimate audience in 2003, this is the ultimate in down and dirty jazz club rendition. It’s hard to imagine a more succinct demonstration of both the raw and refined nature of Mary’s talents.

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