Alannah Moar – Ready Or Not (2024)
With her self-described style of “dramatic folk-pop”, singer-songwriter and producer Alannah Moar adds edginess to a sometimes-stagnating genre. Moar’s sound is nostalgic with a strong sense of pop and folk music familiarity; however, a contemporary edginess adds a refreshing burst of newness to the melodies. This is my first taste of Moar’s music, but she is already an established name having played alongside artists like KT Tunstall and Amanda Palmer, as well as receiving critical acclaim far beyond her Scottish borders. The latest addition to her discography is the single ‘Ready Or Not’.
Following her well-received single ‘Reciprocate’, ‘Ready Or Not’ adopts a softer, smoother, more gentle sound as compared to the eclectic nature of ‘Reciprocate’. Produced by Moar with mastering by Robin Sutherland, listening to ‘Ready Or Not’ is like setting off on a glistening sonic river with stars in your eyes. A laidback flood of Carron Miller’s guitar and Neil Martin’s bass calms the nerves; just as they are calming, there is a hit of tumultuous vulnerability and tragedy lingering beneath the water. Miller’s percussion taps you on your shoulder in a warm tug but, as with the guitar and bass, a sense of tragedy lingers beneath.
With her honest lyricism and charming melodies, Alannah Moar delves into the human spirit with each song. ‘Ready Or Not’ explores the complexities of relationships in a juxtaposition between poignant words and jovial sounds. She explains:
“The topic seemed to fit well with the feeling of the song of time plodding on, even if you don’t want it to. It’s trying not to acknowledge what you need to accept. It’s trying to hope that things will work out in the end, even if you know that they’re not… It’s one for feeling things out, rather than dancing or screaming. It’s one for curling up on the sofa and melting into all the feelings you were putting off and once it’s done, getting up and starting your day again.”
Find out more about Alannah Moar on her Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
Listen to more folk-pop music on The Other Side Reviews Folk Pop playlist:
