Body & Soul – Lola Collette (reviewed by Dave Franklin)

As a calling card for her EP to come, the much anticipated Loveland, Body & Soul is a great opening salvo. It may, on the surface at least, feel like just another female acoustic troubadour, and whilst that is an apt description of the vibe here, it doesn’t even begin to sum up how great the song and, indeed, the artist is.

Such a throwaway description fails to capture how near-perfect the song is, its addictive qualities, its accessibility, and its gentle infectiousness. Nor does it take into account Lola’s gorgeous and expressive voice, a voice that sits somewhere between the deftness of the 60’s coffee shop folk boom icons and the coolness of the modern indie vibe, a voice that has the richness of the timeless soul singer and the lightness and concise elegance of today’s best pop singers.

And then there is the poise and polish of the production and composition, the deft and delicate layering of instruments, shimmering and distant guitars, chiming and charming pianos, heavenly harmonies, and bass and backbeats that do only enough to outline the structure, never intrusive, always vital. All of which add scintillating tone and texture to the finished piece.

If this is the opening gambit for a new artist, it is a song which will have so many people making a mental note to watch where she goes next, not to mention a physical note to buy the forthcoming EP. I know I did.