Dear Companion

The Philadelphia musician Meg Baird is a member of the prog-folk collective Espers, as well as half of a duo with her sister, Laura. Her delightful debut solo album, sparsely recorded with a variety of stringed instruments such as guitar, banjo, and dulcimer, wears its traditional folk influence on its sleeve. Baird's beautiful, unfussy vocals at times recall those of the British singer Annie Briggs, particularly on time-honored songs such as "Willie O' Winsbury" and her closing a cappella "Untitled." Baird is unafraid to explore folk music's commercial potential, as evidenced by her irresistibly catchy "Waltze of the Tennis Players," which is as perfect a ballad of young love as you'll find by any artist, neo-folk or otherwise, and the casual ease she displays with the medium throughout makes this album a joy to listen to.