DECEMBER, 2010 - BLABBER N' SMOKE review

Natasha Borzilova - Balancing Act
By Paul Kerr

Winding up this trio is the even more intriguing idea of a Russian born Americana songstress. Natasha Borzilova was born in Obinisk, Russia but now resides in Nashville. Despite her stated original intention of recording an album of Russian folk songs this album consists of her own songs with only the closing traditional Rechka betraying her roots. Taking her cue from this song which deals with three sisters crossing a river and one of them drowning Borzilova writes about elemental links between nature and humanity, highlighted on the superb Water and Wood.
Although traditional in sound there are moments such as the guitar in Balancing Act that add an edge to her crystal clear vocals. The closing Russian song Rechka, sung in her native tongue, is a beautiful and climatic end to what is a fine album.