No Mermaid
Artist: Sinead Lohan
Label: Grapevine (UK)
Length: 12/48.59
Backing her pensive voice with sensitive textures which build in
varying levels of folk-sensibilities with contemporary sounding drum loops,
Sinead Lohan's second album sounds as though it were written for late evening
listening, with a glass of something and a need to relax.
Lyrically the album is relationship based, but in a reflective style
and occasionally hinting at deeper themes. Lohan has obviously invested
care in crafting the lyrics and while they are not all up to the high standard
she seems to show the potential for, they go beyond the traditional pop
cliches. "Loose Ends," an earthy track with Lohan's voice resting above
a pressing groove, looks at the ending of a relationship as the two participants
grow apart:
Tie up loose ends,
darling baby's heart is broken.
As the road bends
look at all you are becoming.
Stretch your calling
way beyond where distance finds you.
What is calling
now must take you to the harbour.
The album does not touch on openly spiritual matters, although there
is a feeling of some sort of spirituality hidden slightly below the surface.
But spiritual matters are not what this album is about so much as emotional
ones.
Possibly the most commercial track is the third, "Whatever It Takes."
Slightly more 'up' than most of the others, a different mix would make
it a sure radio hit (and this one still could do well). Instead the production
is somewhat looser, allowing the various facets of the song to develop
in a more spacious environment. The fact that it isn't mixed this way shows
that this is an artist more concerned with putting together a well-crafted
album than achieving the transient success of a hit single.
Most of the time the languourous feel of No Mermaid is what
gives it its appeal, but occasionally it goes a little too far--some slightly
tighter arrangements might have served it better in places, and perhaps
a littlemore variation in the strength of the various threads which build
up the musical tapestry would have been good--nevertheless this is a promising
album from a singer/songwriter with a lot of potential.
By James Stewart (10/4/98)
