Liam Singer plays the role of musical journeyman having been back and forth across the states playing with a multitude of different bands of many different types. He has a strong background in piano, theremin, and harpsichord among other instruments. These instruments let Singer provide a colorful and full backdrop for his calm story songs. After a few solo albums Liam has come back with a new album that is at once understated and painted with many different sounds.
As mentioned above the main instruments used by Singer are his harpsichord and piano. This allows the songs a certain classical element as opposed to a dependence on the normal band set up of guitar, bass and drums. In some cases the piano carries the songs going from powerful to lilting within the course of a single song. The harpsichord in particular creates a otherworldly effect on the listener that may be more used to an engaging piano or guitar. This is not to say anything sounds particularly alien on this album, but it does go a long way to create a very beautiful effect on the songs.
The vocals in themselves are something of an unexpected source of beauty. From song to song they alternate between Liam's singing voice and a female choir of sorts. The choir creates a classical feeling that propels the songs skyward. Giving what may otherwise be a normal piano based song to a classically leaning piece. The real surprise here is Singer's own voice. What comes as a voice sounding similar to Elliot Smith carries a great calmness and melody to each song it is used on. Each style is used in a variety of ways to make each song move with its own rhythm.
This is an album that exists well beyond the sum of it's parts. It makes the listener feel enveloped in the songs. Everything in the songs fits perfectly together never giving too much space to the piano or slight drumbeat that may exist. The vocals are truly the guide to each song giving the instrumentals further depth. This album is a great continuation of Liam Singer's talents in music. You would be doing yourself a disservice to ignore something that is played with this much finesse.
