Miracle cover

Miracle

Released

Miracle would prove to be the last of Berry’s solo albums for 4AD, and at the time of writing (2022), her last solo album to be released. It’s always felt like the most expansive of her four albums, and the most poised, too – it’s no surprise to read that 4AD label head Ivo Watts-Russell thinks it has the best musicianship of any album on 4AD, as the playing on it – from members of The Charlatans, The Raincoats, and Dark Star, among others – is divine. But the real magic is Berry’s songs, which feel peeled back to essence, from the levitating mantra of “The Mountain”, to the folk-rock confessional of the title track. Jesse Colin Young’s classic song, “Darkness, Darkness”, is covered here, and nestles tidily alongside Berry’s similarly moving songs – no small feat.

Jon Dale

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