Lucinda Belle Orchestra – My Voice & 45 Strings
Preview by Jack Foley
THE Lucinda Belle Orchestra is the sum of one harp, a harmonium, the melodica, some strings, horns, an upright bass, drums, the ukulele, a clarinet, guitar and an exceptionally talented singer and songwriter.
Lucinda Belle may not yet be a name on everyone’s lips… but that can only be a matter of time. Her album, My Voice & 45 Strings is a cracking introduction to her many, many talents… and a really nice listen from start to finish.
Guided by a voice that could sometimes melt butter, and which seems destined to garner comparisons with all the classic singers (as well as contemporaries such as Norah Jones and co), it’s a charming collection of songs that display a number of styles.
Title track kicks things off in endearing fashion, offering an infectious polka beat, ragtime piano and self-affirming lyrics, before former single Dodo Blues weaves some smouldering, dare we say Jungle Book-style horns around a twinkling Gypsy Jazz lament.
Indeed, it’s no small compliment to note that one of Lucinda’s instantly qualities lies in her ability to combine sounds that are both classic and cinematic with a contemporary nous.
Valentine is a swoon-some offering that’s deeply romantic… and full of love-lorn sentiments (“even when I’m drowning in the finest wine, say you’ll be my Valentine”), while there’s a flamenco element to the soulful duet that is Keep on Looking (another of many highlights).
There’s a great story of on the run lovers, backed by some fine ukulele strumming, on the classic Rose Marie & Bobby McGee, which is tremendous fun and complete with a funky hand-clap beat; while Northern Lights is a beautiful torch-song that finds Lucinda’s dreamy vocals left alone with just a harp for company. It’s utterly enchanting.
But no matter which type of style she’s taking on, Lucinda seems to master them all. Further highlights come from the likes of Unlucky in Love, which drops some great playful lyrics amid its jazzy horns, and Jimmy Choo’s, a bluesy Cinderella-tale that weaves in a subtle string section along with some harps and a great melancholy chorus.
A piano pop moment comes from the serene I’ll Get By, which offers her most outwardly contemporary sounding song, while Right Here rounds things off in hopeful fashion with another slice of jazz-pop that’s reminiscent of both Norah Jones and Katie Melua (not to mention ripe for an emotional Glee cover version!).
Recorded in locations including Nashville – where Lucinda once studied jazz – Los Angeles, London, Stockholm and Paris, and boasting co-writes with Graham Lyle and Ed Harcourt, this is a quietly mesmerising debut that’s as musically sumptuous as it is vocally inspired.
Lucinda Belle would appear to have an extremely bright future ahead of her. And My Voice & 45 Strings is another of the debut albums of the year.
Download picks: Dodo Blues, Keep On Looking, Rose Marie & Bobby McGee, Northern Lights, Unlucky In Love, Jimmy Choo’s, I’ll Get By
Track listing: