Rapid Fire Reviews: Natalia Lafourcade, Lianne La Havas, Kelly Lee Owens

-

Natalia Lafourcade - Un Canto por Mexico, Vol. 1

Natalia has been one of the leading voices in the world of Mexican folk revivalism with her pair of Musas releases both of which received massive critical acclaim including from me. While UCPM isn't quite the same concept the sounds will be familiar to people who have been following Natalia recently and he executes it well. The set of tracks here are raw but extravagantly performed and lushly arranged which means that even when moments blend together the minute to minute sound of the record is exciting. While it clearly won't be for everyone if you've enjoyed her music prior to this then the album is yet another can't miss entry. 7/10


Lianne La Havas - Lianne La Havas
This album completely slipped under my radar despite the fact that I was a fan of Lianne's debut Is Your Love Big Enough? around the time it came out. Given that it was one of the records I was most excited to finally get a chance to listen to my expectations we're rather high but the album largely lives up to them. Lianne is back with a rich array of R&B songs that provide warm textured instrumentals backing her ever charming voice. While she isn't necessarily pushing the envelope anywhere on the record it's mixing pops on one track after another which makes it's already great instrumentals sound even more inviting. From the catchiest singles to the most heartful ballads and with even a Radiohead cover slid in-between the record tackles nearly all its ambitions head on and makes an R&B record that blends a sound analogous to last years excellent Solange record with songwriting reminiscent of the genres 90's heyday. 7.5/10

Kelly Lee Owens - Inner Song
I wasn't a massive fan of Kelly's first album but I do think she makes some meaningful improvements on Inner Song. The record consistently reminds me of early James Blake with its minimalist ballad lik interpolations of electronica and house music aesthetics. The record certainly isn't the most involved listen you'll have in 2020 but some of the quietest songs emerged as highlights on repeat listens. While I still think Kelly has a step to take in finding a definitive sound that makes her albums feel like complete singular statements there is a lot of potential in the music here. 6/10



Popular posts from this blog

You Are The Morning - jasmine.4.t: Review

-
Image
jasmine.4.t is a British singer-songwriter who was announced last year as a new signee of the Phoebe Bridgers-led Saddest Factory record label. You Are The Morning  follows a trio of singles that dropped last year and features Phoebe Bridgers' entire group, boygenius, on production throughout the record as well as occasional backing vocals from the trio. I was extremely excited for the release of the album after loving all of the singles and this style of indie-folk and singer-songwriter music in general. Delightfully, Jasmine didn't disappoint. When I say my expectation were high for You Are The Morning  I mean it, because the album's three singles are an astounding bunch. Lead single "Skin On Skin" is a wonderfully written tune that's able to convey some unique sensations with the physical descriptions in its lyricism. It's also the moment where I first fell in love with Jasmine's subtle but beautiful singing and when the song rushes into its surpris...
More Reviews

ICONOCLASTS - Anna Von Hausswolff: Review

-
Image
Anna Von Hausswolff is a singer/songwriter who has always made waves for their distinctly intense and occasionally brooding style of music that makes prominent use of the pipe organ. Her peak of critical acclaim came on 2018's brooding yet expansive Dead Magic . Her 2020 follow-up was an entirely instrumental record, meaning ICONOCLASTS  had the chance to be a long-awaited return to form. Instead, the record presents a sound both brighter and more intimate than ever before, but finds a similar level of fascination in doing so.  The singles predicted this shift in style, but they were all so good that I never had the chance to even be suspicious about it. "Facing Atlas" is the first of the singles to pop up on the record, and it's a great way to begin the experiment. The song sounds more like something you'd hear on a Susanne Sundfor record than what I expect from Anna. The beauty of its angelic chimes matches really well with a chapel-sized performance from Anna. ...
More Reviews

Getting Killed - Geese: Review

-
Image
Review by Lavender: Geese are a NYC indie rock band that erupted onto the scene in 2023 with a breakthrough sophomore album,  3D Country. That record went on to become a major critical darling, and in 2024, the band's frontman, Cameron Winter, released a solo album that showed off a more intimate and singer-songwriter-influenced style. I was hoping that dynamic range would come together perfectly on the band's third album, which quickly became one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year for many indie fans. While I may not see the album as a slam-dunk masterpiece like some fans and critics have rushed to declare, it's undeniably great regardless.  A big reason for my excitement for this record was the trio of excellent singles released before it dropped. The second single, "Trinidad," is the first song in the tracklist, and what a ferocious start to the record it is. The more sparse elements of the instrumental don't really prepare you for the repe...
More Reviews