‘Just in Time‘ finds us in the company of Millie Hanlon-Cole (aka. Magpie Blue). An incredibly gifted 19-year-old singer songwriter from Edinburgh, this is her debut single which has recently found its release on Seahorse Music.
Lyrically, Magpie Blue delves into introspective yet sharply to-the-point subject matters from heartbreak to anxiety, investing her words with a raw truth. You get the sense listening to this number of an old head resting on young shoulders, of someone who has the emotional intelligence to channel real feeling into their art.
Having already gained comparisons at this early stage of her career to the likes of PJ Harvey and Anna Calvi, her Jeff Buckley-esque vocals inflect this number with a sense of raw melancholy. A husky, brooding start sets the track off on a low key, before her band, featuring the likes of drummer Michael Reid of Man of Moon and guitarist Louise McCraw of Goodnight Louisa, build proceedings to a mighty crescendo, subtle electronics adding an unexpected layer of depth. Production duties are confidently overseen by Idlewild’s Rod Jones, who brings his band’s keen ear for melodics to ensure this track remains firmly lodged in the ears after it’s finished.
An inspired first offering from this singer songwriter, surely the sign of many great things to come from Magpie Blue.
Do check out the visually stunning video for the track, below, directed by upcoming filmmaker Jude Thomas. Set on Edinburgh’s Portobello beach, it’s bound to gain comparisons to Chris Martin sauntering along the sands blasting out ‘Yellow’ nearly twenty years ago.
‘Just In Time’ by Magpie Blue is available to stream now, here.
