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SELECTED PRESS REVIEWS:

 

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THE OBSERVER

 

"Michell has an instinct for a narrative - all the songs here are originals, steeped in tradition but not trapped by it. Highly enjoyable."  (Neil Spencer, The Observer)

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MOJO

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"A fab new folk-adjacent singer-songwriter"  (Jim Wirth, MOJO)

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MORNING STAR  ★★★★★

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"Contemporary songs to carry on folk music’s best storytelling traditions"  (Steve Johnson, Morning Star)

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RNR MAGAZINE  ★★★★

 

"Though her 2019 debut The Wildest Rose garnered Odette Michell awards and plaudits as a major new talent, leading to sharing the stage with pretty much every luminary of the British folk and acoustic scene, it always takes a follow-up to confirm the presence of a major talent. So, here it is, and The Queen of the Lowlands is everything we could have hoped for. First off, there's that clear, confident, and compelling voice that draws the listener into the story-world of the songs... And then there are the songs themselves, which elegantly walk that fine line between individuality and sounding like they've been sung for hundreds of years. Notable here... The rollicking title track, which tells the tale of a passenger steamship requisitioned as a troop ship, and has one of those choruses that sticks in your head for days. The latter is embellished by superb fiddle work from Chris Leslie, one of a number of guests who contribute throughout - though these guests don't in any way detract from what a fine multi-instrumentalist Michell is herself, on what will surely be one of the releases of the year."  (Oz Hordwich, RNR Magazine)

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FOLK & TUMBLE  ★★★★

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"This is a beautifully crafted and polished album, with ballads and narratives  such as  the story of the Dutch passenger steam ship SS Koningen der Nederlanden (Queen of the Lowlands) which was converted into a troop ship to transport troops to France during WW1.

 

Captivating, soulful, gentle, melodic this is quality folk for those who follow the likes of Kate Rusby, Sandy Denny or June Tabor.

 

An inspired collection of heartfelt songs with no need of comparison, for the ‘Queen of the Lowlands’ stands high on its own right."  (Julie Williams-Nash)

 

 

SONGLINES  ★★★★

 

"Ten self-penned tracks that could easily pass as coming from the folk tradition"  (Tim Cumming)

 

SPIRAL EARTH  ★★★★

 

"A collection which shows an increase in both maturity and deft songwriting across a range of moods and inspirations. You don’t get the likes of Phil Beer, Chris Leslie and Stu Hanna working with people they don’t respect and value, so that alone should tell you her work is worth hearing."

 

“…As a writer, Michell tries to keep hold of folk form and sentiment in her compositions, making each one personal at some level and you’ve got to hand it to her she succeeds splendidly. They sound like folk songs, they deal with folk song themes but at the same time they’re melded with a piece of her.”

 

“You’ll do Odette Michell no favours if you approach her with comparisons in mind, forget it, she’s her own lady. Her music, sophisticated and seductive is her own as well. Touring across the year, catch her live, daring to be different.”  (Simon Jones)

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FATEA MAGAZINE

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"The range on this album is phenomenal... This is an exceptional album, I can't see how it could be improved, and confirms what many have know for some time, in Odette Michell we are privileged to have one of the great folk writers and performers in our midst"  (Tony Birch, FATEA)

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FOLKING.COM

 

"If this isn’t among the top folk albums of 2025, then there’s something seriously wrong with the genre’s collective ears"  (Mike Davies, Folking.com)

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AMERICANA UK

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"Following her well-received debut 'The Wildest Rose', Michell gives us a further ten tracks of stunning traditional sounding folk music. Her vocals are crisp with a hint of that beautiful Yorkshire accent, which is almost out of reach but still there."

 

"When you are working with members of Fairport Convention (Chris Leslie) and Show of Hands (Phil Beer), there is no doubt the result will be stunning. Michell has produced a special second album, and it includes a lovely, lilting, waltz-like ode to St. Helens. We didn’t see that one coming. The closing tune, ‘All the Bonny Ships’, will leave you with the smell of salt water in your nostrils and an urge to play it all again."  (Andy Short, Americana UK)

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MEVERICK  ★★★★

 

"Warm and rustic... The Wildest Rose incorporates hints of Irish roots with bittersweet narration as each track becomes a new chapter of Michell's story to tell"

 

"Odette makes an easily loveable impression in her latest record. Graceful and mysterious, Michell encapsulates listeners with her nostalgic imagery and sweet melodies - a very enjoyable listen."

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NORTHERN SKY  ★★★★

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"There is much to get lost in within Michell's quiet understatement and nuanced singing on songs like 'Dance Me Through The Night'... 'Great Old Northern Line' with a great guitar part mimicking the sound of a train, is another emotionally charged performance and song. 'True Lovers Farewell', like a guitar and voice lift from a 60's Joan Baez album is an absolute masterclass in how to deliver traditional songs, and is one of the strongest tracks on this fine album."

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"This is an assured album with lots of highs and no lows. Whether soaring or soothing, Odette Michell is one to watch."

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FOLK RADIO UK

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"Breathing fresh life into the acoustic tradition while staying true to its heritage, Michell is one of the brightest new names to have emerged full-grown on the country’s folk scene in recent years."

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FROOTS MAGAZINE

 

"​Beautifully written, beautifully sung, beautifully played and beautifully produced, The Wildest Rose deserves acclaim as one of the stand-out debuts of 2019"

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LIVERPOOL SOUND & VISION  ★★★★

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"The Wildest Rose is not only an enthralling debut, it is one which returns the genre to its roots, an air of calm driven by insightful prose and musical score..."

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FOLK LONDON

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"From the first bars of the strong opening title track, which could be from an early Fairport set, it is clear that Odette Michell has a song writing and performance skill well above average."

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"If you then add the talents of two of the scene’s multi instrumentalists to the musical recipe in the form of Phil Beer and the 25 year old wonder Toby Shaer you are maximising the musical ingredients to produce an album that is worthy of your talent. Self penned songs, clearly rooted in the English folk tradition that could easily be mistaken for Anon. or Trad. Include The Banks of Annalee and the third track Rolling Shores of England - which I can hear being played and sung in folk venues for many years to come.

The sole track not penned by Odette is the traditional 18th century True Lovers Farewell/10,000 miles which in mid album is seamless with its adjacent tracks such is the quality of Odette’s singing and song interpretation..."

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UNICORN MAGAZINE

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"...Although a relative newcomer to the folk scene, Odette is making a huge impact, and having listened to this CD and seen her perform at Costa Del Folk and the Kimpton Folk Festival, I am sure she is destined for great things.

 

"Folk music is in good hands with artists of this calibre".​​​​​​​​​​