Singer and songwriter Lucy Parker takes things back to the bare essentials of heartfelt Folk and Pop, with her melodic and nostalgic new album a beautiful place to die.
Simple piano and cleanly-mixed, vulnerable vocals pave the way, as Home sets the mood for an increasingly full yet always intimate, organic sound. Harmonies and humble rhythms reinforce the growing passion of the vocal delivery for these memories and reflections on love and life.
Oasis follows, acoustic guitar fingerpicking replacing the keys, Lucy Parker’s voice now unmistakable as it meanders through another long-form story devoted to intertwining poetry and personal observations.
From evocative ballads to stylish and soulful blues, Red Ink marks a distinct shift in groove and presentation, bringing out a whole new set of nuances and intricacies in Lucy Parker’s voice, and in my view, depicting the very best of her abilities as a unique vocalist. We’re in a more fully-produced yet still organic realm, with a twist of Soul and Jazz united with those inherent Folk and Singer-Songwriter tendencies that resound throughout this collection.
The title-track steps back to the acoustic vibe and utilises natural world fragments to underpin the imagery and ideas that inspired the concept for the album – a calming journey that continues throughout the beautifully hypnotic and genuine Grow Old.
For this section of the album the reflections get all the more emotional, deeply moving in their vulnerability and simultaneously accessible realism. I Do takes that a little further, a relatable piano-ballad with the clear intention of being a wonderful wedding song for any and all who are celebrating their love and commitment to one another.
Forever doesn’t last long is a defiant highlight, the vocal harmonies and the enchanting guitar loop creating a captivating space, within which these again broadly relatable contemplations can connect in a profound and lasting way. Later on, Rose on the Grave stands out for similar reasons – a wonderful vocal dynamic between two, a humble rhythm and a striking melody and pattern of scenes. Before this, however, the value of arrangement kicks in, as we’re gifted the groove and colourful Folk Pop chorus of London.
Reverb-kissed layers of guitar back up the breathy calm and quiet passion of Second hand smoke, a familiar but likable progression, which feels ready to soothe the soul in the live setting. Lucy Parker’s voice again shines well in this new but still recognisable style of performance.
Overthinking pairs faster-picked acoustic guitar with a slowly evolving sense of passionate conviction, for a song that feels increasingly relatable as the verses pour through. Then to finish, Like an Irish Folk Song injects the rhythm and audience-participation, into an album that would no doubt work its magic all the more strongly on the stage. A thoughtful and emotive debut, releasing August 8th. Pre-save a beautiful place to die.
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