October 2, 2014

There’s an indisputable comparison between Lottie and Alison Krauss, that latter name being akin to various and sundry Grammy awards and recognitions. But unlike Ms. Krauss, Lottie hasn’t been on the music scene for long, yet her vocals are by far the greatest I’ve heard this year in the Folk/Singer-Songwriter genre. I’d even go so far as to say that Lottie, the southern, redheaded belle you’d think tip-toed her way out of a John Millais painting, will one day give Ms. Krauss a run for her money — not in a competitive sort of way, but a “we’re-both-that-good-on-the-same-level” sort of way. Lottie has her very own take on the velvety-as-molasses vocals. It’s one that’s the purest of its kind. In Leaving the Labyrinth, you wonder if this is some sort of soundtrack for the sequel to Cold Mountain: it has all the fixins’ for a home-grown Americana album, but one that is refined, crisp, emotionally devouring, and flawless in its effortless and truthful sound. This lady and her talents need to be heard by you immediately.

Track by Track:
1. Still Good: My first favorite. She takes you down a somber path, asking questions that have no answer. The pain is there in the lyrics — the quivers and aches you hear in her voice naturally expose the lurking sadness. But ultimately, the purity and goodness prevail.

2. My Favorite Sin: You get to know who you’re listening to with this one. Just as she reels you in on the first track, this one reels you in with the story. She’s vulnerable: you hear the fleeting hope in her croons, only to be dismissed by discouraging drawls.

3. Every Single Lie: The flirty song. The taunting grooviness of her voice helps you forget the sadness for a while and take a reprieve full of soulful teasing.

4. Yearn to Stay: She lulls and croons here just as you’d expect from the title. Right back in the thick of heartache, you can hear the actual yearning. The long-winded wails are so perfected that you begin to hear the actual cries.

5. The Sad Clown: The fullest amount of body from her voice comes in here: she shows her vocal range and power while keeping full control in this cyclical, back-and-forth wind-up music box tune.

6. Whole Again: The second favorite on the EP. A total 180 from the rest of the tracks, this one is daintily bright. The croons are still there, but in a celebratory, graceful outburst of subtle enchantment.

Mary Elizabeth Adams, The Orchard