Leftovers

Canadian musician Lauren Spear brought a background in bluegrass along with her to Montreal when she moved from British Columbia as a young adult. She expanded her interests into contemporary folk, rock, and country as she established herself in the indie scene there, and started releasing her own songs under the solo alias Le Ren in the mid-2010s. A record deal with Secretly Canadian followed in time for her full-length debut, the Chris Cohen-produced Leftovers. Guests including Big Thiefs Buck Meek, Maunos Eliza Niemi, and pedal steel guitarist Aaron Goldstein also contributed to the albums gentle, textured palette. It opens with a sparse, Renaissance-style folk tune, the dulcimer-accompanied Take On Me, which introduces Le Rens lithe and lucid vocal delivery alongside evocative lyrics like, Just listen to the stillness/Of a stirring from within. A rhythm section, violin, ornamental piano, and more join in on Dyan. A short, sweet standout dedicated to the songwriters mother, its warm lyricism more directly evokes 60s and 70s folkie influences. More country-minded songs here include the drawled Was I Not Enough?, (Dont make me weep like a) Willow, and a more playful, lilting waltz, Whos Going to Hold Me Next? featuring Goldsteins pedal steel work. As if kids are asleep in the next room, even the more expansively arranged entries here never rise above hushed, late-night volumes or, more importantly, ever compete with Spears restrained, reflective vocals, even Annabelle and Maryanna, a swung, strummed duet with Tencis Jess Shoman about the value of platonic relationships. Alternately poignant and heartwarming throughout, the album closes with May Hard Times Pass Us By, a song whose resilient demeanor and fingerstyle technique are representative of Leftovers affecting timelessness. ~ Marcy Donelson

モントリオールの女性ソロ・アーティストによるデビュー作で元ディアフーフのクリス・コーエンがプロデュースを担当。アメリカン・フォークとカントリーの感覚をベースに、彼女の歌と生ギターに最小限の楽器を加えたシンガー・ソングライター然とした内容で、ローラ・マーリングにも通じる美しい彼女のヴォーカルが何よりも魅力的。温もりのある音像も素晴らしく、繰り返し聴きたくなる作品ですね。
bounce (C)赤瀧洋二