Aly Tadros Purveys a Haunting Sound

Aly Tadros has packed quite a bit of experience into her seven year career. In that relatively brief expanse of time she’s released six albums, toured much of the world and proven to be a good samaritan by lending her time to various charitable pursuits. Self-taught in her finger-picking playing style, she’s managed to fuse folk, pop and international music in formulating a style uniquely her own. Her latest effort, the suitably haunting Hungry Ghost, is a case in point. With its effortless ambiance and smooth contours, the songs come across as both soothing and provocative, and oftentimes eerie all at the same time. Tadros isn’t an insurgent; on songs like like “Silence of the City, “This Is How You Lose Her,” “Partner In Crime,” and “Higher Than the Moon,” she strikes a mellow mood that lures the listener with willowy textures and more than a hint of desire. Credit producer Kevin Salem with providing the lush ambiance that cradles Tadros’ voice, bringing her comparison to Suzanne Vega and Natalie Merchant in its waif-like tones. It’s tempting to call Hungry Ghost haunting, but ultimately it’s best described as ethereal and assertive, practically all at the same time.