May has now released her second album, Loved/Dark; the fruits of a move to Oakland and the result of a more patient and meticulous approach to her song craft. The album is an array of thick brushes of oil paint over immaculate canvases, sounding untamedly earthy yet quietly refined. If the first extract “Raft” displayed May’s ability of layering an intricate upbeat composition into the confines of non-electronic instrumentation, her follow up, the title track “Loved/Dark”, explores a janglier May who is limited to the use of her own acoustic guitar.

Sounding purely American, the rough guitar repeats a melody of soothing melancholy and hopefulness - May’s voice sounding affected by experience and modelled on her travels and time. It’s a simply beautifully arranged track and is currently available via her BandCamp.

<a href=“http://alisonmay.bandcamp.com/album/loved-dark-2”>Loved/Dark by Alison May</a><p>