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From the gentle introduction of picked guitar with tremolo underneath Lucinda Belle’s voice, I was convinced that I was going to love this record. However, when off-beat stabs abruptly came in, it quickly became utterly forgettable. Granted, she’s got a great voice, but the whole package quickly blends into one smooth, easy listening mess that fails to leave any lasting impression. It isn’t pop, and it isn’t jazz. It isn’t strictly bad either, but there’s just too much exciting music out there to bother.
“Nothing can be right/when everything is wrong” she croons on new single ‘Dodo Blues’, basing each verse upon the couplet. Seriously? There’s cute and then there’s lazy. It’s a pity, because for the rest of the album her lyrics tend to be of a much higher standard, for example on the evening jazz ‘Valentine’ and stripped-down ‘Northern Lights’, the highlight of the album. With the arrangements simplified to just Lucinda and her harp with all the kitsch removed, she finally plays to her strengths- her voice shines through, and an emotional response is finally elicited in the listener. Fantastic.
That said, I’m not the sort to buy an album for one track. In fact, I don’t think anybody is anymore, so just do yourself a favour- listen to ‘Northern Lights’ and wait for the next of her four remaining albums she’s been contracted to by Universal. As Labour (or D:ream, whichever you prefer) said in 1997, “things can only get better”. TAGS: Lucinda Belle Orchestra Words by: Alex Lynham |
