By Russell Barker

Cynthia G. Mason is a supremely talented singer-songwriter from Philadelphia and she shows off her subtle yet emotionally moving talents on this self financed mini album. Over seven songs we see a voice as good as Joni Mitchell singing little tales over some sublime backing which is some parts folk, other parts country, but all parts beautiful. The Joni Mitchell comparison isn't one I use lightly either, you too will be amazed at her voice.

'Measure' has some precise, choppy guitar and fairground style organ and '95' starts off pulls of lovely picked strings, before turning into a lush soothing backing for Cynthia's vocals. '2 Cents Turned To Billions' rocks gently from one foot to the other, and before you've realised it it's sneaked up on you and you've been encircled in melody. On 'Subtle Things' there's such minimal backing, just a plucked acoustic, yet it works well again, Cynthia sounding like Suzanne Vega at her most regretful.

The rest of this seven track CD continues in a similar fashion, whimsical, gentle, fragile and very beautiful.

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