Ange Boxall

Maverick Magazine ****
Tasmanian singer-songwriter Ange Boxall has been based in London for a number of years now, building up a healthy following for her easy-on-the-ear country-flavoured songs. On this long-awaited album she shows that she is a talented songwriter and distinctive singer with a pleasing country-folk style that should appeal equally to modern country and Americana listeners if only they were to take a chance on an artist less familiar than say Mary Chapin Carpenter or Nanci Griffith. You will be hooked-in by the rhythmic beat on opener Fool For Now, a co-write with the Wrights (who join in vocally and instrumentally) as it is hypnotic and has a nice country-pop touch. Angie co-wrote Loving Between The Lines with Jim Lauderdale, who adds harmony vocals on this sweet country tune enhanced by BJ Cole’s smoothly-executed pedal steel.
Showcasing that rare ability to pen a story-song that has you hanging on every line, Ange comes up with the story of Brigiite & Tuesday, a couple of skinny teenagers who get high on lemonade—aah, such innocent days. Electric Blue is a delicate acoustic ballad with just Angie’s heartfelt vocals and assured acoustic guitar picking. She teams up with the legendary JD Souther for Lucky Day, a gorgeous song about long-distance lovers and that lucky day when they get to meet up for a romantic night out. Again BJ Cole is in top form and the arrangement is enhanced further by Jessica Hale’s cello. Going Home On A Sunday is a great toe-tapping country song; the harmonies are sweet with great slide guitar by Michael Flanders and inspired banjo by Charles Butler. After you listen to this wonderful album you will definitely want to hear more from the talented Ange Boxall. AC - Maverick Magazine UK

NetRhythms

The Tasmanian singer-songwriter has an impressive phone book, her debut album featuring as it does appearances by both JD Souther and Jim Lauderdale as well as Steve Arlene and BJ Cole. Mind you, I should also observe that the former two only actually appear the songs they co-wrote; Lauderdale on the uptempo Loving Between The Lines and Souther with the more wistful Lucky Day.

Not that Boxall needs a helping hand to pen or sing a decent song. Largely keeping the acceptable Americana side of Nashville country, she has a warm, slightly dusty voice with a slight twang that conjures thoughts of young Nanci Griffith or Patty Griffin and, highlighted by unadorned torch-tinged Electric Blue, is no slouch on the guitar either.

The songs aren’t overly ambitious, content to keep mostly to either bruised heart or self-sufficiency subject matter, but they do get your fingers tapping on the barroom table as the melodies and choruses rise above the chatter. Co-written with Adam and Shannon Wright, the opening Fool For Now gives good twangy guitar country-folk, Gonna Give It Up harks to the sort of good old pedal steel honky tonk you might have heard George and Tammy singing while Going Home On Sunday fetches out the banjo for some bluegrass mottling.

Best though is her self-penned Brigitte & Tuesday, a gently tumbling, blues tinted rootsy number about the daydreams of “two skinny girls with glittery pink finger nails” getting high on lemonade. If these are her letters, she’s sent them special delivery.

Mike Davies
- netrhythms.co.uk - Mike Davies

I’m all set for a powerful performance but nothing could have prepared us for what we get from Tim’s support. Tasmanian songstress Ange Boxall opens the evening with rich, warm vocals and a set dripping with honesty. This pretty blonde stands alone on stage, guitar in hand and powerful voice at the ready. People put down their cutlery, abandon their vegetarian wraps and rise to attention before the small but mesmerising artist. She is a delight both on and off stage. Keep your eyes and ears wide open – this London-based treasure will go far.

- The Australian Times

I'm in love. "Bigger Picture" is an Americana styled song of the highest order, and is easily one of the "best" songs I've ever reviewed here. Ange sings deliberately, with purpose and conviction, of taking advice as if it were the same advice you'd give to another ... to see the bigger picture. The jangly intro is all Clint Eastwood spaghetti western ... the entire song rings with the sound of the American southwest, dry, hot and blazingly bright. The band's performance is impeccable. What's perhaps striking, but not surprising, is that Ange is originally from Australia, and is now based in London. It sure does seem that Australia understands the essence of Americana music and embraces it with purity and zealousness. Like award winning Australian singer-songwriters such as Tamika Tyler before her, Ange speaks from a rural Australian country experience, in an American country-folk voice not unlike the "voices" of the likes of Nanci Griffith or Iris DeMent, with whom she shares some similar vocal eccentricities ... or even such wonderful talents as Patty Griffin, Beth Orton or Mary Chapin-Carpenter. This is truly beautifully well done.
- The Consensus

Ange Boxall is originally from Tasmania, Australia but now lives in London.
The CD starts out with "Bigger Picture" which has a sort of Rock-a-Billy/Chris Issak feel to it. Very melodic and a really fun song.
"Lady" is one of those songs that feels like it takes the listener back in time. It's reminding me of a CD I reviewed a long time ago. It was by an artist named Circle Link and her music was sort of old-school too. Really interesting and cool.
Boxall tends to take some chances with her voice. At times it's astonishing, others it's just kind of weird, but always intriguing.
The music is hard to put into a genre…sometimes it sounds like adult alternative, sometimes pop, and sometimes downright honky tonk. But that's not to say it's a schizophrenic album, because all the songs have a commonality. Part of that commonality is her voice, and there's something else too. I can't quite put my finger on it.

This is an album that will remain in my regular rotation for some time to come.

I don't really want to pick out stand out songs because I honestly like them all and they are so unique that I think there's something for everyone. That said, I really like "A Simple Life". - Collective Sounds

Singer songwriter Ange Boxall was born in Tasmania, Australia and grew up listening to the likes of Joni Mitchell (her dad's influence) and Pat Benatar (mum loves '80s power-chord pop).
Ange graduated to Sheryl Crow and Carol King, started writing songs and recorded two albums: Red Is My Flesh and See-Saw.
In 1999 she moved to Melbourne and then London in 2000. For her third album Release, she's enlisted the help of an amazing set of musicians that have worked with the Prodigy, David Gray, Gorillaz, Yusef Islam and The Divine Comedy. They form part of an as yet unnamed band who will be accompanying her at The Borderline. Recorded in London, the album includes the twangy poppy alt.country of 'Bigger Picture', the jazzy 'Solo of The Sun' (on which she sounds like a sexier Katie Melua). There's the sweet and gentle 'A Simple Life' and 'Miracle of Love', which is PJ Harvey meets Jewel played by the Band Seeds. 'Here I Am Again' has a Natalie Merchant meets Calexico vibe while her best song is the Julee Cruise-infused country noir of 'I Don't Know'. Ange admits: "I've always wanted to be in a Tarantino film." Her cheekiest song 'Lady' fantasies about having an affair with another woman. "As an artist you always have to think in an experimental way," she says with a wink. Ange's hobbies include buying hats and wearing sexy shoes. She's bought a gleaming new pair especially for the Borderline gig.

- What's On In London

Why would anyone forsake the sun and scenery of Tasmania for London where, even in mid-May the days can be grey and wet? Who Knows? But we can be glad the Tasmanian-born Boxall did, as it means we get the first glimpse of her new album, Release. Her first, er, release in Britain (the previous two albums were Australian-only), it's a bewitching bunch of acoustic guitar-led songs in the vein of Joni Mitchel or Jewel. Indeed, if you're still mystified by the Alaskan troubadour's (Jewel's) decision to forsake her folk-tinged coffee house roots and go all Europop, here's where you should be looking next. Boxall launches the album with her eight-strong band at London's Borderline Club on May 31. - The Metro London

Boxall is a butterfly with bite. First impressions of local singer Ange Boxall are of a young, attractive, and diminutive blonde.

But when she sings Ange presents a a completely different dimension. Her voice is big - it's also strong, mature, and on occasions has a dark huskiness that gives it extra depth. The lyrics of Ange's songs also reveal intelligence and a free-thinking spirit. - The Star, Australia