tamara williamson

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What the Press is Saying...

...Throughout the album, there's a sonic depth and character that reveals itself gradually, especially at higher volumes. A world where Williamson's music topped the charts would be a weirder one indeed -- maybe a better one, too. At times, Tamara's voice contains an honesty and conviction that would resonate with any Chan Marshall (Cat Power) fan, minus the autobiographical feel. The deep, atmospheric blend of dark vocals and highly textured accompaniments forces the listener take an active listening role and is the kind of sound that demands your attention if it's to be fully appreciated.
The first thing to strike most anyone first hearing Tamara is her voice; equal parts Beth Orton, Chan Marshall, Lisa Germano, Kristin Hersh and, sporadically on her downright haunting background gymnastics, Bjork, she has an incredible range and depth to her voice that she isn’t at all shy about showing off and, surprisingly, it rarely sounds overdone... With dry percussion and simple yet lush guitar, Tamara Williamson’s latest record bears a striking resemblance to another Canadian songwriter – Julie Doirion. While Williamson’s low self-esteem warble gives Doirion a run for her money, the material is not nearly as heavy or depressing. The sound is masterfully fleshed out with cello, trumpet and keyboards, and as a result All Those Racing Horses is imbued with a beautiful ghostly quality.

For those not familiar with Williamson or Doiron, imagine what would happen if Beth Orton wasn’t so boring. Williamson’s subtlety and ease of delivery makes this record a real gem. 4/5 Adding horns, strings, and undistorted guitar to electronic loops and effects, such as the familiar tweets of a dial-up modem, this album sets itself apart from standard atmospheric artists. And on top of all the instrumental layers, Williamson’s voice adds an element of folk to the album, with melancholy, melodic lines floating through the music. All Those Racing Horses is the kind of album that washes over you.
All Those Racing Horses finds Williamson surpassing the enormous promise of Queen Street and her two subsequent releases, Unconscious Pilot and In the Arms of Ed, her songwriting finally able to catch up and perfectly showcase her tremendous voice.
Challenging and abstract, with great washes of shimmery guitar orbiting dark, soupy beats and Williamson's frail soprano quaver, even the less epic songs on her consciously poppier new All Those Racing Horses (Aporia) disc require a couple of listens to fully absorb. This fourth recording by Toronto singer-songwriter Tamara Williamson is a pretty magical exploration into the world of lush, orchestral pop. Dramatic, whimsical and buoyant in spirit, this "one-woman choir" (who has previously collaborated with King Cobb Steelie and Do Make Say Think) crosses Cat Power imagination and Björk effervescence with conservative folk sensibility to arrive at a warm, enlightened style. Mystically mellow.
Ilana Kronick
It seems that Tamara Williamson has been around the Canadian music scene for some time. In fact, All Those Racing Horses is her third solo release. She is quite well known out east but head across the prairies and she starts to get fairly obscure. Her music is gentle with her Bjork like voice being the focal point. Racing Horses is one of those precious albums that honestly gets better with every listen. The reason for this is that there is so much going on, despite the mellowness. Williamson comes across as a simple songwriter but the experimenting is what sets her apart from other like musicians. Some tracks like "Love Street" get going with a fairly upbeat pace. Others, like "The King" and "Houses" are very ethereal in every sense. Tamara is not afraid to experiment with classic singer/songwriter styles, incorporating different elements and fading into nothingness. You might have heard her with King Cobb Steelie or her other band, Microbunny. Tamara is not a woman who takes it easy. This is a very interesting album that should appeal to both female songwriter fans as well as the more experimental side of pop fans.

• For more information about Tamara Williamson visit her website: www.tamarawilliamson.com