Halfpast

A vintage-warm acoustic album for a slow café afternoon at home - mellow fingerpicked guitar, soft piano, tender young vocals, a whisper of vinyl crackle, with light sunny-pop tunes and two little waltzes woven in, following one sweet baking afternoon from a free half-past-two to a contented good-night in seventeen songs.

The story begins at half past two with a whole afternoon to spare in "Halfpast." A little idea arrives - let's bake something - in "Notion." She brings out the flour and butter in "Flour," stirs the batter round and round in "Batter," and slides the pan into the oven with the kettle on in "Oven." A sweet fragrance fills the whole house in "Scent," her little lamb assistant begs for a taste in "Nibble," and she waits by the window for the timer in "Timer." She dances a tiny tiptoe waltz in "Tiptoe," the cake rises golden and proud in "Puff," and steam curls from the cooling rack in "Cooling." The heart of the hour arrives in "Knock" - setting one more place at the table. Then comes the first slice with dark coffee in "Slice," a slow second cup in "Seconds," a contented waltz over lace doilies in "Doily," a last cup in the marigold-colored evening in "Marigold," and the cups returned to their shelf in "Cupboard," closing the afternoon soft and satisfied.

Each track carries just a drop of quiet grace, making this the perfect soundtrack for baking days, home café time, and slow afternoons with something sweet.