4 Stars: RnR Magazine

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RICHIE LAWRENCE
****
Moving At The Speed Of Trees
(BIGBOOK) www.richielawrence.com
I was straight away sucked in to this album by the first track, in which Richie Lawrence sings of, it is assumed, a relative emigrating to the USA to make a better life (as my own grandfather did in the 30s, only to return to Scotland penniless after seven years). In this case, the subject stays, and through determination succeeds. The narrative continues with a further eleven songs, some sole compositions, and others co-writes with Katie Thomas, and the late Paul James Lacques, although an impressive cover of Ray Bonneville's `Lone Freighter's Wail' is a splendid inclusion.
Katie Thomas has an angelic voice that perfectly complements the material -shining solo on several tracks, notably `Leaving You'. Richie Lawrence is a brilliant piano-accordionist with masses of experience and has gathered a stellar cast of musicians, including the superb Dave Zirbel on pedal steel, on two tracks. Tony Gilkyson nails the lead guitar part for `The Poetry Of Lust'. Moving At The Speed Of Trees is a well-constructed, confidently produced and beautifully presented selection of material.
Grem Devlin (RnR Magazine)