Louise Jordan’s EP, Born to Wander is an exciting selection from a promising singer. Produced by Andy Bell, who has produced Kerfuffle and Fay Hield amongst others, the EP features Sam Sweeney on fiddle and he also provides the string arrangements.

Louise has a strong, lilting voice, that soars with feeling over the instrumentation. When I was on Horseback, made popular by Steeleye Span, sees her singing the lament of a dead soldier with pathos and beauty.

Born to Wander is the one self-penned track on the EP and sees a very slight American element come into the music, with a strumming guitar forming the basis to the accompaniment. However, it fits very well with the general musical style of the EP. Louise has a definite well-formed sound of her own.

Silver Dagger and I Will Give My Love an Apple look at love from different angles. Silver Dagger sees a mother preventing her daughter from being with her true love, whilst I will give my love an apple speaks of love that needs no admission.

Each track is very well put together and produced but it is the opening song that really showcases Louise best. The Cruel Mother has vocals reminiscent of Kate Bush and a soaring orchestral arrangement. The whole effect is close to perfection and something that the repeat button was made for.

In some ways it is a shame that this track opens the EP as the rest, whilst really good, cannot live up to the invigorating sound of The Cruel Mother. However, for an EP to produce tracks of such a high standard bodes well for further recordings from Louise Jordan.