Juniper
Blue Élan, 2020
8/10
An Irish singer and actress, Lisa Lambe delivers a self-described ‘love letter to nature’ with Juniper, her sophomore album, as she navigates her sultry vocals through 11 tracks that were recorded live in one room.
The songstress starts the listen with the gentle acoustic sounds and atmospheric piano of “North Star Rise”, where her elegant and expressive vocals fill the atmosphere with hushed beauty, and this continues to the calm and breezy blues influenced “Hunter’s Moon” as well as the country tinged “Vision In Grey”.
Deeper cuts bring us the strong vocal prowess of the key friendly “Burning Love”, while “All The Stars” trims the volume down to bare balladry that moves both softly and with agility. “Holding Back The Tide”, one of the album’s best, then uses orchestral strings and plenty of timeless melody to leave a lasting impression.
Near the end, the title track shines with cautious, heartfelt song craft that radiates warmth, and “Tiny Devotions” finishes out the listen with vocal layering in the mid tempo exit that leaves the listener wanting more of her lush, stirring songwriting.
A very thoughtful effort that reminds us of a more youthful version of Stevie Nicks, Lisa Lambe is certainly likely to expand her audience globally with this universally embraceable album that will also strike a cord with fans of Natalie Merchant.
Travels well with: Jess Jocoy- Such A Long Way; Rory Block- Prove It On Me