Rhiannon Hope

An ode to trinkets and those who collect them, ‘Magpie’ marks a departure from the sound that Rhiannon Hope honed on All Things, Rising And Returning. Her vocals are just as commanding, her songwriting just as gentle, but Hope swaps her trusty accordion for a seven-minute indulgence in looping keys and auxiliary percussion. Saxophones and subtle drums fade in and out of view as Hope ruminates on the myth of the magpie, the comfort of collecting.

This departure may stem from Rhiannon’s approach to writing the track, which involved fusing two shorter writings into what would become the lengthiest song in her discography. “Each was a little too short to be its own song,” she explains, “I’d never written a song like that before, but I really enjoy how long the song is and how completely different the two sections are.” Despite the daunting length, the track was recorded completely live and has already become a band and fan favourite in their setlist.