There’s an old soul lurking within ‘Leaves’ by Julia Greenberg. The acoustic guitar lines and upright bass evoke elements of Joni Mitchell’s folk-jazz crossover sound circa 1974 at first, but the feeling of hearing something classic runs far deeper than that. An unpolished vocal owes more to Marianne Faithfull and her unapologically confessional style, and the presence of a tasteful accordion gives the feeling of something distinctly European. With a lack of percussion, the listener is constantly drawn towards the vocal and the lyric, shared with a perfect confidence, but despite a wordy approach, ‘Leaves’ is also a track that flaunts a simple and catchy hook, making it feel perfectly rounded. Working its charms from the very first listen, this is a must-hear for lovers of singer-songwriter fare, and by flaunting a defiantly vintage quality, it gives Greenberg’s ‘Born Sentimental’ EP a very strong centrepiece.

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