Review
Lianne La Havas: Forget (Warner Bros)
9
8.1
Rate this EP
UK release date 13.02.2012
I got excited when this dropped through the letter box. Having interviewed and photographed Lianne late last year, for our cover star feature in the Dec/Jan issue of this magazine, I was blown away by her vibrato-rich voice, guitar playing and her songs. Even in her sound check.
Her debut EP, “Lost and Found,” won a 10/10 review from me. I tipped her for super stardom and stand by that. Everyone at B&S loves her. This latest EP gives us five tracks from the 22-year-old Londoner. One a re-mix of the title track, and even a demo. The title, “Forget” has uniqueness; a quirky ditty about an ex who dumped her, turning up a year later to ask her to sing on a love song he’d written as an apology. Yes, it really happened! A nice groove, a solid hook, floating harmonies, but thick production effect on her vocal that really is not required.
The stand-out is track two, a live version of “Au Cinema,” her newest song and one I picked out from her sound check and gig in Nottingham last year, as an absolute cracker. Dreamy jazz-soul vocal, blissful guitar sound, simplicity and depth. The drums and keys kick in at 1.45 and help drive it along. Lianne has beautiful delivery vocally. The cost of this EP is worth it for this one stunning track alone.
“Gone” is a demo, with Lianne’s tone and phrasing venturing into Dusty in Memphis territory, which is fine by me. This track is not perfect, but it is real and honest. As it says; a demo. The recording quality of the Garage Band-recorded DIY track, “Same As Me” is a little below par. An OK song. The final track is the Two Inch Punch re-mix of “Forget,” electronic sounds all over it, swooping in and out of her cut and pasted vocal. Not one for me.
Lianne’s full length album is due in the spring. Cannot wait. She’s been on Jools Holland’s TV show, selling out gigs all over the place, toured the US with Bon Iver in December, tipped by the BBC, MTV and HMV. Graced the cover of the world’s oldest black music magazine (Blues & soul) which is her first ever cover. We know talent when we hear it.
There really is no one like her in the UK right now. She is not one to watch for 2012, she is THE one to watch, for my money. Catch her live in March in Brighton, Oxford, Dublin, Birmingham, and if you have a ticket for the already sold out London shows. I guarantee you’ll adore her. Most exciting new UK artist for decades, bar none.
Words SIMON REDLEY
