Album Review: Fiona Brice - Postcards From

Violinist and composer Fiona Brice's CV includes collaborations with the likes of Midlake, Placebo and Kanye. Yet her debut solo record is unassuming.

With arrangements for strings and piano, she paints a series of vignettes, each named for the place in which it was conceived: Berlin, Paris, Glastonbury. Often the piece consists of a motif, varied and modulated. Variation from track to track is subtle though, with many tending to fade into the background. Still, close listening reveals some nice surprises: there is an ominous thrum beneath the surface of Dallas, and Verona's five-note piano motif tugs then tears at the heartstrings.