Hannah Wicklund - The Prize (Flat Iron 
Recordings/Strawberry Moon Records)
Release Date: 12th January 2024
The first album review of 2024 comes in the shape of Hannah Wicklund's outstanding new album, 'The Prize'. Following a grueling tour in 2023 and ahead of another slew of dates on both sides of the Atlantic this year, this album will introduce itself to the world like the first flower of Spring. The ten track (perfect length) album opens with 'Hell in the Hallway', the kind of song that could announce any artist or event on to a huge stage with atmospherics giving way to a blues stomp of a melody and Wicklund's assured but breathless vocal welcoming us to the party. 'Witness' hangs off a moody, stomping piano melody which has elements of Tori Amos and Ani DiFranco to it before 'Hide And Seek' embraces a rockier, grungier side of Wicklund's sound to complete a stunning opening trio of tracks.
The tight banjo strum of 'Lost Love' creates a sense of something ending and regret about the times that have slipped away while the drums add extra emotion to an already charged song. 'Song Bird Sing' has a late night quality to its lazy picking and eyes-closed crooning before title track 'The Prize' sees Wicklund return to the piano for a track full of depth and warmth but also drenched in sadness, showing off the artist's brilliant versatility. The bluesy lurch of 'Can't Get Enough' reeks of late nights and blood shot eyes but it's the perfect touring song for long road trips on too much coffee and not enough sleep. The blues-rock vibe continues on 'Intervention' with Wicklund's voice ringing out like a church bell above the barrage of grumbling guitars.
Penultimate song 'Dark Passenger' is an altogether moodier rock'n'soul affair with an 80s inspiration (think Alannah Myles) and some wailing guitar work. The album closes out with 'Sun to Sun', a song of pure scale and ambition that has the fingers of the Greta Van Fleet clan all over it (specifically on drums and production duties, since you asked). This is a big, sumptuous and complex album full of creativity, versatility and musicality - not a bad start to the year, then.
More information: https://www.facebook.com/hannahwicklundss