We’re digging this song by Halifax, Nova Scotia songwriter Norma MacDonald that we came across online. She released her new album Old Future a few weeks ago and ‘Wonder In The Summer’ is just one of its many highlights.

MacDonald’s voice is a classic country sound, soaked in that ache and melancholy that we love. It has that lived-in quality that comes with age and experience. She never overplays her hand on this track. With its blissed-out sound she nestles in the sweet spot of the song, amid some wonderful playing from her band. Elsewhere on the album she adds some nice folk-rock qualities and though most of the record is mid-tempo roots music, it hits the spot wonderfully, due in no small part to MacDonald’s songwriting and the warm production.

Old Future is MacDonald’s fifth album and along the way, her third album Morning You Wake received three Music Nova Scotia nominations in 2011 (Female Solo, Folk and Country/Bluegrass Recording of the Year). Her second album The Forest for the Trees was nominated by the ECMA as Female Solo recording of the year in 2009.