Clela 'More Love and Happiness' - Self-Release

This singer/songwriter draws on folk, jazz and world music influences. Born in Canada she has recorded three independent albums, two roots records and one collection of jazz and blues standards. Blessed with a strong voice and a clear delivery, Clela certainly impresses across the eleven songs here. The recording is uncluttered and features an acoustic leaning towards fiddle, accordion, ukulele, mandolin and harmonica in the arrangements. The trio of songs, Home on High, Open Up My Heart and In the Mercy of Your Love are the highlight here, running together into a seamless whole. Fine playing repeats throughout but it is the vocal delivery and simple acoustic guitar that lingers most with For the Beauty of the Earth and Indigo Blue taking proceedings to an impressive conclusion