Has everything been sung and written (and heard by the listeners) within the now very expanded singer-songwriter genre?
Even if you accept such a possibility, how about then, combining some of these ‘already done’ musical ideas into something that creates an air of individuality, by say, going into the direction of art-pop, akin to greats like Laura Nyro or Jane Siberry, coupled with the intricate soft pop touch of Carole King?
That just might be a good description of British singer-songwriter Kelsey Michael and her 7-track debut album Lethowsow.
For the uninitiated, the Lethowsow title refers to the legend of Lyonesse, a tale specific to the Cornwall part of England about mythic land lost beneath the sea waves, by which Kelsey Michael gives another specific touch to her quite an exquisite musical combination of singer-songwriter style with art-pop.
Yet, Michael is not exactly a newcomer – as a theatre performer and movie soundtrack singer, her voice was featured in Jocelyn Pook’s score for Stanley Kubrick’s final film Eyes Wide Shut and has also collaborated with Sean O’Hagan and his High Llamas.
That just might be one (but only one) of the reasons we got this highly accomplished, inventive ‘debut’ album.
