The west coast group Lucy & La Mer, featuring lead folk singer and songwriter Lucy LaForge, debuted their six-track EP titled Little Spoon early this April. The self-released short stack of emotionally-charged songs explores themes from every day life to romance gone sour. Five original tracks and one cover showcase velvety-soft vocals augmented by a vast array of instruments that will leave you wanting a seventh song and more. The upbeat and more jovial tracks are akin to the fun-loving pop style of Ingrid Michaelson, while others mirror the melancholy mood of Norah Jones’s album Little Broken Hearts.
Lucy is adorable in a Zooey Deschanel sort of way, but don’t let the album cover’s charming photo of this California blonde, with her fringe bangs and pink hair bow and pink fleur de lis all around, fool you into thinking she’s just your average girl next door. I’m sure she’s sugar and spice and everything nice, but her contemplative gaze truly reveals that she has depth and heart and soul that shine through the album’s entirety. Each song exposes her heart, pulling us into her pain, beauty, hardship and love.
The EP opens with “Oak Tree,”a sweet melody about the age-old tradition of lovers carving their names and initials into the bark of trees that will make you want to clap along. Notes frivolously tip-toed up and down the piano are an endearing interpretation of young love’s innocence. The imagery of the old oak tree’s changing leaves reminds us that there are seasons to love and life.
“Rainy Days” don’t have to dampen life. With the help of a playful harmonica, Lucy expresses that a special someone can be the light that cuts through the storm clouds in life. Toward the close of the track, the pitter-patter of actual rain begins behind the melody and carries through until it is the enduring and final sound, the gray that washes her blues away.
“Just Friends” is a snarky commentary on today’s friends-with-benefits relational conundrum. The juxtaposition of lighthearted whistling and sarcastic lyrics complete this satire on intimacy without proper boundaries. It is creative and funny.
In “Roomie Wanted” Lucy orders the moving out of an unfaithful and newly ex-lover. The animosity is thick in this sardonically upbeat number, seeping through between the curse words and pleas for him to remove all his useless and broken crap, including himself, by the time the song ends. Scrap it all and pawn the Rolex.
Lucy’s artistic talent even soars through her eerily somber rendition of Soft Cell’s “Tainted Love.” It is a wise and perfect song choice for her because the subjects of complicated love, murky relationships and broken-heartedness are consistent with a portion of her originals. She expertly executes the emotion and feeling of this song as if it was always hers.
Lastly, “Heaven” will form a lump in your throat if you’ve ever experienced the loss of someone dear. It’s a painfully beautiful portrait of true love lost too soon. The tender harp and haunting harmonies of the background chorus are light and airy, like puffy white clouds, while the mood remains morose. It’s a bit heart-wrenching to end on such a depressing note, but it probably would’ve ruined the overall feeling of the album had it appeared any sooner. It leaves a lasting impression.
After soaking in all that Little Spoon has to offer, I’m reminded that talent like Lucy’s is the reason I have girl crushes on female singer/songwriters. I predict a broadening fan base that will keep Lucy & La Mer from being a one-EP-wonder. I certainly would like to hear more than a “little spoonful” of her musical artistry. How about it, Lucy?
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