MARIA TAYLOR LadyLuck (2009 UK 10-track CD album - 'LadyLuck' [the 3rd solo album from the former Azure Ray frontwoman], finds Maria Taylor working with her regular collaborator Andy LeMaster as well as Michael Stipe [R.E.M.], both of whom have co-writes on the song 'Cartoons and Forever Plans', to which Stipe also adds backing vocals. On an album of many highlights, 'Time Lapse Lifetime' boasts orchestral strings and grand melody and describes howfast life moves and how in a moment everything can change, while 'LadyLuck' is an altfolk gem in the vein of Cat Stevens or Vashti Bunyan, with swelling melodies of lively acoustic guitar, trembling tambourine and airy flute. Meanwhile, 'My Favourite…Love' and 'Broad Daylight' both convey an air of Parisian romance, with echoes of mid-60's Francoise Hardy in both vocal delivery and string arrangement.)