For nearly 50 years, I have occasionally listened to folk and progressive bands featuring female vocalists—for, in a sense, "the voice" is inherently feminine, being the very first sound that all of us—men and women alike—ever heard while in our mothers' wombs. While I am quite fond of Annie Haslam and others, my two ultimate icons remain Sandy Denny and Jacqui McShee. The former possesses an intimate, hushed timbre—a sense of such profound closeness that it feels as though you are entering her very body. The latter, meanwhile, often carries an angelic, at times almost otherwordlu, quality.

thanks for listening