Reviews
Artist:Lisa Marini Album: Born In Tribes
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 11
Website: http://www.lisamarini.com/
Of this album and her long and emotional journey to this point Lisa Marini says "I feel I had to live a thousand lives before I could arrive at this one". This is clearly no idle boast as Marini's captivating measured, but worldly voice demands your attention and draws you straight in. Confident swagger and whiff of danger are there like undertones or notes. From the first moments of "Piece By Piece" it had me, the contemporary spoken rap edge of contemporary performers like Ruth Theodore, Ani Difranco is there, with a touch of smoky shimmering Amy Winehouse flutter on the voice or maybe the more obscure Jackie "Helicopter Girl" Joyce. Patrick Wood's production and Lisa's arrangement layer the vocals with folk Psych mysticism and the whole just pulls you in.
"Born In Tribe" layers on the atmosphere. Marini's vocal swirls and twists like devotional trance music while Jack Tustin's bass and Benedict and Patrick Wood's guitars build a rich atmosphere. At times the sophisticated folk jazz reminded me of a pair of sublime Eps from a decade ago by Emily And The Woods, featuring Emily, Benedict and Patrick Wood, so clearly Born In Tribe is a meeting of minds. This is cinematic music drawing images of flickering firelight shadows and dancing figures. "Crooked Circle" continues the mystic atmosphere, circling desert music guitars and drums make the blood pound while Lisa croons and incants. It's a modern, internationally informed music.
"I've Been A Thief" is a knotty jazzy dance, funky like a post hip hop Pentangle. Marini's lyrics and staccato jazz riffing spirals around the Double Bass and pulsing beats. "Bound By These Streets" is by turns tender lullaby and joyful shout like a rootsy Lianne La Havas. Lisa's voice holds your attention., gentle then percussive, firing rhymes and pleading over beautiful jazz guitar chords and that rich Bass. "More?" is a Noir ballad, a hymn to the restless city, classic over the end credits film music. Wood's production uses space around electronics, guitar chords and that stunning voice to make full use of every second. "Kite" opens with closely miked resonant acoustic guitar as Lisa milks every breath every syllable on this stunning low lights torch song. Cello, piano and guitars are gradually added to the mix slowly building a beautiful sonic cathedral. I could of listened to this track all night.
"Secondhand News" marries a bruised sassy street vocal with attitude to guitar chords that are by turns meditative then abrasive. Stuttering beats, modern blues lyrics and a blend of country pedal steel proves that music moves ever onwards, borrowing, blending and reinventing. "Rag And Bone" is warm trip hop modern folk with a touch of Joni Mitchell jazz care of those retro electric piano chords.
There is a warm expansive feel to this album as it slowly conjures early morning smoky atmospheres. "Heavy it down" indeed. "Deeds And Words" is another track that blends the timeless acoustic heartbeat of Bert n John or Dorris Henderson with modern pop electronica to make something beautiful. "Song From The Moon" opens with street atmospherics. Nocturnal life rolls by while Lisa croons a about refuges. Like a group of sirens she duets with a choir of herselves, playing with time in a jazzy way over a track of boho percussion, leaving only passing traffic and doorsteps in its wake.
Marc Higgins
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