Lizzy
Back in the day, the Montréal duo of Lysanne Picard and Sébastien Ménard made incredibly summery - bilingual - folk-tinged pop music. Better known as Lizzy & the Orca they released a couple of great EP's (still available via Bandcamp and well worth checking out) as well as getting some critical attention outside of their native Canada (and not just Sud du 49e). And then, just like a meteorite burning brightly across the night's sky, they were gone...
Today, Lysanne Picard just goes by the moniker Lizzy. She may have ditched the cello and ukulele of Lizzy and the Orca, but her brand new EP, "Clowds", is a yet another collection of incredibly enjoyable tunes that fuse synth-pop and folk to create a quartet of incredibly radio-friendly, feel-good pop-songs.
The song that's getting everyone's attention is "Magic" - and why not? It's a nigh-on perfect dreamy synth-pop and just ideal for a summer's drive with the roof-down and not a care in the world. Light and airy keyboards and synth pads lay down the beat for Lizzy's slightly nasalised vocals and multi-tracked harmonies. Seriously, this is just the type of song I should be driving down the PCH, radio pumping full-blast and listening to (Hello KCRW are you reading this?)
"Sensitive heart" is an effortless upbeat pop-song (and listening to the intro I can see where Le Draveur is coming from with his 'sensual baying' comment) resplendent with yet another multi-tracked chorus - again, it's bright, summery and incredibly fun. It's the kind of song that leaves me with a smile on my face (to be honest I used to get the same sensation when listening to Lizzy's previous incarnation). It's also just a little bit retro - a theme which seems to have been touched on once or twice of late...
Today, Lysanne Picard just goes by the moniker Lizzy. She may have ditched the cello and ukulele of Lizzy and the Orca, but her brand new EP, "Clowds", is a yet another collection of incredibly enjoyable tunes that fuse synth-pop and folk to create a quartet of incredibly radio-friendly, feel-good pop-songs.
The song that's getting everyone's attention is "Magic" - and why not? It's a nigh-on perfect dreamy synth-pop and just ideal for a summer's drive with the roof-down and not a care in the world. Light and airy keyboards and synth pads lay down the beat for Lizzy's slightly nasalised vocals and multi-tracked harmonies. Seriously, this is just the type of song I should be driving down the PCH, radio pumping full-blast and listening to (Hello KCRW are you reading this?)
"Sensitive heart" is an effortless upbeat pop-song (and listening to the intro I can see where Le Draveur is coming from with his 'sensual baying' comment) resplendent with yet another multi-tracked chorus - again, it's bright, summery and incredibly fun. It's the kind of song that leaves me with a smile on my face (to be honest I used to get the same sensation when listening to Lizzy's previous incarnation). It's also just a little bit retro - a theme which seems to have been touched on once or twice of late...
"The light", the EP's closing number is in many respects the closest to a Lizzy & the Orca song. It's arguably folk-tinged (although I'm sure Lizzy would suggest that it's in-fact 'anti-folk') and compared to the rest of the EP, the tempo of the song is definitely slowed, but this highlights Lizzy's keen eye for melody and detail.
However, the standout track on this EP is "Girlhood." "...She likes glitter and gold, little things ribbons and bows..." However this is not your typical teen-pop song - this is more about pushing back at stereotypes and perceived weakness. It is - as the song points out - all about reclaiming the notion of 'Girlhood' for yourself, "... you say you're not like other girls, as if we are all the same....
However, the standout track on this EP is "Girlhood." "...She likes glitter and gold, little things ribbons and bows..." However this is not your typical teen-pop song - this is more about pushing back at stereotypes and perceived weakness. It is - as the song points out - all about reclaiming the notion of 'Girlhood' for yourself, "... you say you're not like other girls, as if we are all the same....
This is an incredibly well-crafted song. Synths and looping beats give way to Afro-pop guitar chords and an inspirational gospel-like choir. I'm sort of reminded - in a positive way - of the #LikeAGirl campaign (but without the subliminal product sell) and ensures that the overwhelming message is one of affirmation and celebration.
While Sébastien Ménard once again mastered the recording and ex-'orca-stra' member David Jalbert Adamowicz returns as the mixologist, "Clowds" is actually the first collection of songs that Lizzy has produced herself. The end result is the perfect quartet of songs for the summer and with an average of 320 days of sunshine in this little corner of Southern California, means I can enjoy this record all year round.
Welcome back Lizzy!
Lizzy Website
Lizzy "Clowds" EP (Bandcamp)
While Sébastien Ménard once again mastered the recording and ex-'orca-stra' member David Jalbert Adamowicz returns as the mixologist, "Clowds" is actually the first collection of songs that Lizzy has produced herself. The end result is the perfect quartet of songs for the summer and with an average of 320 days of sunshine in this little corner of Southern California, means I can enjoy this record all year round.
Welcome back Lizzy!
Lizzy Website
Lizzy "Clowds" EP (Bandcamp)
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