This Mortal Call

It's not often you hear young people singing about mortality. That's normally the preserve of grizzled blues veterans, or burnt-up jazzers, musing about final days in St James' Infirmary. Or Bob Dylan, back from a life-threatening illness, bleating his way through 'Not Dark Yet'.



In an earlier age, the likes of Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams were set to perish at 35 and 29 respectively, and many of their songs imagined their meeting with The Reaper. It was probably this spirit that inspired a young Van Morrison to get morbid with 'TB Sheets', 'Slim Slow Slider' and 'Mystic Eyes'.



Now there's a new set of songs for the canon. As we've noted before, Bridie Monds-Watson, is a 16-year-old from Derry with staggering talent. Recording as Soak, she has given us two amazing EPs this year, 'Trains' and 'Sea Creatures'. All of the songs this far appear to be edged with black. 'Fingers Crossed' for instance is about the trauma of imminent loss and some undefined illness. 'Sea Creatures' is about the intensity and pure focus of two people, living for each precious second. The outsiders are an interference and Bridie compares them to fish, cold-blooded and unfeeling.



That's also the deal with 'Doorstep', a meandering nightmare, wondering if that threshold is due. Haunting stuff, and the artist sings it with piercing intent. That's also the deal on the first EP. 'Trains' is a journey across fear and farewells, a companion to Van Morrison's mighty 'Madame George'. Listen to her repeatedly sing, "don't go" and grieve also. "Does everyone you know have to die", she poses on 'Numb' and the answer is withheld.



These are formidable songs, deep and measured. You wouldn't want her to stay on this theme forever, but it opens her songbook in a startling manner.