Album Notes

Susan Raven, singer and songwriter, is a songsmith, a 21st-century troubadour. Her critically-acclaimed album, Glittering Cities, is a cinematic journey from start to finish, an emotion-fired collection of majestic songcraft with strong vocal performances that fall somewhere between Sinead O'Connor and the Cranberries. Ethereal instrumentation and inspired performances from, among others, members of the Peter Gabriel and Salif Keita bands, perfectly establish the sonic aura around her thought-provoking lyrics. The arrangements soar, ranging from multi-layered synth programs over dance grooves through to a pure acoustic and orchestral approach. The album's lyrics reflect the artist's interest in all things mystical and esoteric deriving from the traditions of both East and West.

Susan has completed recording a brand new album, released in March 2007. "Ravensong" has received excellent reviews, great listener responses and has been featured on BBC local radio... the album is now available to buy from CDBaby - see link under "Try This" on the left of this page!

"I write all my songs on a vintage Martin 12-string guitar. It is an entire band in one instrument, the harmonics and drones that spin out from the strumming suggest many of the overdubs that follow. I take a song and hone it until the base-metal turns to gold. I write lyrics to trigger emotions, memories and inspiration in people and as my craft has matured, so a strong individual sound has emerged. My music has been variously described as Cosmic World Fusion, Space Rock and Ethno-Pop."

MURRDAY FISHER - THE ALL MUSIC GUIDE - "Susan Raven's debut album, Glittering Cities, is transcendent. Raven's voice is gorgeous, and her original compositions are moving and insightful. All cuts are technically excellent. The title song is a lucid and vibrant example of Raven's total production - ethereal, shimmering, and visionary."

BOBBY BENSLEY - A+R - "This is the kind of album that many artists only dream of producing. Listeners will notice the overall level of quality of this production. Every instrument, every little sound, is crisp and clear, living within its own separate space in the overall mix of the music. Glittering Cities is as uplifting as it is contemplative. Raven's emotive and melodic voice adds depth, texture and harmony to the lush instrumentation of the arrangements. This album is a top shelf example of independently produced music. It is no wonder that it has achieved such critical acclaim across the Internet. From the first to the last notes, all parties involved exude a level of professionalism that many major label performers have lacked in recent years."