The Short of It: The new Rosemary Hill EP is superb listening. Put it on repeat, close your eyes, and allow the soundscape to warm your soul.

I was a little late to the party – a new Sixpence None the Richer offering? Where have I been? Leigh Nash is my favorite female vocalists. I can’t think of another voice that whisks you away into memories, melancholy, and pure listening bliss. Can a more mature Sixpence still capture the innocent imaginations and mysteries of their younger years? YES!

Leigh Nash. Her vocals on Rosemary Hill are as dreamy as ever, beguiling beautifully while soaring effortlessly as a bird catching a ride on the wings of a cloud. Yes, this is what her voice does to me. It makes me think of poetry in motion.

Matt Slocum’s guitars. Matt’s expansive and whisky sounds are the perfect compliment to Nash’s dreamy vocals. Some guitar parts are painfully beautiful reminding me of the moody whims of the strings from Bob Seger’s Silver Bullet Band.

The Songs. The only thing disappointing about the songs is their quantity: only six. The EP starts with the upbeat and grooving “Thread the Needle” which would have been at home on Sixpence’s Divine Discontent. It’s a terrific place to start. “Julia” is a fun, vibrant tune encouraging a girl that her future isn’t written in stone even though her family’s dysfunction is. “We are Love” is a unique tune with a sharper, darker feel. It starts with Nash’s vocals and acoustic guitar but really takes off with Slocum’s haunting guitar work. This could feel comfortable on rock radio. “Child and Man” slows down the tempo but Nash’s vocals just pulls you along on the story. “Homeland” talks of their Texas roots. The final tune is the title track “Rosemary Hill,” where Slocum pulls out his cello to soothe the wounds of Rosemary Hill “… where the bikers crash and the skaters spill …”

In September of 2023, I had the privilege of meeting both Leigh and Matt at their inaugural performance for the Ten Thousand Maniacs in Jamestown, NY. As I was watching them in concert that night, I couldn’t help but wish it wasn’t the end of Sixpence. I got my wish. Their stay with the Maniacs was short-lived, still having the itch to create and tour with their original band, now matured with a lot still on their mind. And yes, I want to hear everything they have to say! As Nash said about their 50 city Sixpence tour (which I missed) it wasn’t the end but a new beginning. I can only hope that this is true and that Rosemary Hill will lead to many more albums in the future which I’ll keep on repeat.