Bristol and Bath Folk Magazine and News

Album Review - Ray Cooper: ‘Even For A Shadow’

Ray Cooper´s new album Even for a Shadow to be released on 3rd May 2024

Ray Cooper’s solo career has gone from strength to strength since leaving the Oysterband in 2013. After releasing four previous solo albums and completing over forty solo tours in the last twelve years, Ray’s fifth album Even For A Shadow oozes the musical and songwriting experience that one can only acquire through decades performing and writing on the road.

Although the album will not be released until May, the first single Falling Like Thunder was released in December 2023, and is certainly the anthem of the album. Ray delivers spoken word verses and moves to singing for the catchy chorus, weaving together a tapestry filled with contemporary and historical cultural references, eloquently shining a light on his disillusionment with the current political system.

Impressively, Cooper has recorded the majority of the instruments himself. However, the likes of Ben Paley on fiddle and Anders Peev on nyckelharpa are strong additions to the album. Ray’s rugged and characterful voice is also contrasted beautifully in songs such as Going Underground, where the female vocals of Kathryn Roberts give the piece an emotive and sonorous lift. The album features three duets: Going Underground with Kathryn, Black Is The Colour/En Vacker Vän with Emma Härdelin and Wind and Steel with Sunniva Bondesson.

There is something in Ray Cooper’s songs reminiscent of singers such as Leonard Cohen and Ralph McTell, yet he also has a unique voice of his own. His lyrical delivery at times blurs the lines between poetry, spoken word and song, and he uses this multifaceted approach to captivate the listener, whether through songs about social justice or timeless narrative folk tales. Even For A Shadow is a thought-provoking album with careful and contemplative songwriting and engaging musical arrangement throughout.