Family Album (studio album) by Lia Ices

From Mercury 02/01/2021 22:03

85/100 (Serene, melodically rich, subtly varied, art pop and piano-driven folk singer/songwriter album.)

This is a deceivingly adventurous and unique album. It's most easily pigeonholed as maybe just another piano-driven, quite soft, folkie art poppy album that kinda comes and goes whilst sounding pretty. But NO! Stop and hear it. Its got some amazing depth. Amidst these quite beautiful songs are myriad little moments that take the basic bones of the songs (which are already quite sweet and very nicely arranged) to new heights. The first song actually is a great microcosm of this. The first song "Earthy" starts and instantly you are treated to a gorgeous melody on piano and then Lia's lovely voice and lyrics. A minute or 2 in, just before the drums come in, there is a little disruption to the folkie melody and some psychedelic wah wah touches enter the scene and transform the song completely.

And all over the place there are examples of that transformation from the very sweet and familiar to more creative and unique places. With a spare use of psychedelic guitar here and some pedal steel guitar there, and some string sprinkles all about. The sum of the parts adds up to just a really gorgeous folk/art pop album that drips with a beautiful and uplifting, almost spiritual vibe.

The melodies and the way that Lia Ices sings them are notable. They kinda float and shift and don't follow exactly predictable pop or folk patterns. A great example of this is on the title track, where Lia creates a very calm, serene, ruminative space with the relaxed bass and the piano and the slight effect she puts on her voice to make it sound like her voice is floating along with another voice always one step behind. That's what it sounds like to me anyway, I'm sure there is a very exact name for that effect that I am drawing a blank on. Anyway, the melody here is both familiar and yet fascinating in its slight divergence from the norm,

The lyrical themes of peace, and serene growth, family and spirituality, and being renewed, are all beautifully presented. This is not a sad or melancholy album. The album is actually quite life-affhirming. Apparently Lia was pregnant while recording this set of tracks and maybe that hopeful, loving mood is what is shining through and coloring the lovely atmosphere of this album.

I've heard a couple Lia Ices albums, and this one, her first in 6 years as she had kids and raised her kids in the intervening years, is - to my ears - the warmest and most consistent and best of them. This is really just lovely. Fans of Cat Power, Linda Perhacs, serene art pop and folk, etc, will love this album.