If James Blake and Jessie Ware had a lovechild, there is no doubt it would be Lapsley. If you still haven’t heard about this young lady, it’s about time! I am so happy that I will be the one to discover her to you. The UK media has been referring to her as an alternative Adele, which I find strongly offensive since the two have nothing in common but the fact that they both sing about love. Who doesn’t?
Laspley does not bring a high dose of originality to the table. What she does deliver is strong, emotional performances and interesting arrangements. Apropos lyrics, they are never crossing the line into a pathetic, doleful cry, rather levitate in the uncontaminated area of fresh air. Her vocal is soft enough to tickle your bones, but strong enough to give you chills.
The album Long Way Home opens with Heartless, a song describing a familiar feeling of being hurt and apathic to the point where you don’t feel like you have emotions anymore.
Space distance and a backbench post These are the times I suffer the most Night stretches to beyond the darkness It wraps around me and I wake up heartless
It is followed by my personal favorite, Hurt Me, that could easily be sung by Jessie Ware. The electronic matrix fit Lapsley’s soul vocal converging into what might be the best love ballade of 2016. It is also the singer’s most streamed track on Spotify. For a reason.
So If you’re gonna hurt me
Why don’t you hurt me a little bit more
The album continues in a similar manner, with only Operator (He Doesn’t Call Me) as a surprise. It is a funky, upbeat tune on a trace of great disco divas. The lyrics are about a relationship that suffers due to the lack of communication. Another standout is Falling Short, where we find Lapsley being anxious about whether her relationship is going to last for another month.
As you have already noticed, this is an album about love relationships and its turmoil. That is why there are so many comparisons with Adele. But If you listen to Leap, you will hear that Lapsley can offer so much more than Adele’s risk-free uniformity. This youngster knows when to play safe, and when to sing out of the box. Hands down the debut of 2016.
