Poppy Ackroyd: Resolve review – an innovative mosaic of calming sounds

Björk's One Little Indian label signed British composer and musician Poppy Ackryod last year on the back of two very well-received studio albums, Escapement and Feathers, which both used manipulated field recordings. She follows a 2017 mini-album of solo piano re-workings of selections from these albums with a proper follow up entitled Resolve, which Ackroyd has called a very personal project.

“Resolve is about the determination to embrace the good things in life whilst dealing with unexpected and challenging difficulties,” she says. “Finding the light in the dark, facing sadness and loss head on, and developing a growing inner strength.”

Resolve is an extremely soothing and satisfying album that sees the Brighton based artist seek out a more expansive musical vision to soundtrack and explore her deeply felt feelings. She works with guest musicians for the very first time, including Manu Delago (Bjork, Cinematic Orchestra, Anoushka Shankar) on harp, Mike Lesirge (Bonobo, Andreya Triana) on clarinets and flute, and Jo Quail playing cello.

Ackroyd performs on both an upright and grand piano, and plays the inside of these instruments with her fingers, drumsticks and plectrums. She re-arranges and multitracks the results to create an innovative mosaic of calming sounds, making Resolve a bold and beautiful statement of intent from a bona fide innovator. poppyackroyd.com