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There's a depressing inevitability about much of
the current batch of singer/songwriters 'gracing' the
charts and airwaves. Yet one of the more accomplished
is Lucie Silvas, who continues to deliver her own
songs with an untempered, undecorated emotion. She's
no slouch on the piano either, a quality that caught
the eye of Sir Elton John soon after the release of her debut album.
The Same Side is her second record, and though it
features a bit more studio pampering, Silvas' best
assets shine through, namely her voice and her piano
playing. Not for her the anguished whining of a
James Blunt, or the empty over-emoting that
comes easily to Nerina Pallot. With Silvas, you
can be sure that what you get is coming straight from
the heart.
It's a brave start to the album, too, not the big
killer anthem but understated single Last Year,
surprisingly low key as it makes the observation that
"you don't gimme the words I wanna hear". It's not the
only part of the album that finds Silvas questioning
and worrying. She seems to be dwelling on something of
an enigma, that finds her wondering that "you're still
here but you're already gone" (Already Gone) or that
"we're together, but I'm still alone" (Alone).
It's an indication that lyrically there's more to
this album than meets the eye. Counting finds an inner
resolve, Silvas convincing herself that "I won't let
all these silly things bug me no more". Elsewhere
she's digging in, and holding out for happiness. Alone
again - "So just give me space, some time away, it's a
place only for me but I'll be back again".
The production leaves room for Silvas' vocals and
piano but finds opportunity for a nice cello line here
and there, or a lightly applied Hammond. And yet, with
all these good things to note, the feeling persists
that this album is going to do some serious time in
the coffee bars.
And why's that a bad thing? Because a lot of the
music in coffee bars is drained of all feeling and
spark, an over-comfortable place to be while you're
waking up. Silvas hits that effortlessly - maybe too
easily. For while The Same Side has many good things,
and easily outperforms a lot of the soulless fodder
currently on offer, it doesn't quite hit the Tori
Amos edge she occasionally aspires to.
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