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ALBUM REVIEW: Vever – Laura Loriga

LAURA LORIGA is a singer, songwriter, composer and pianist from Bologna who in the last ten years has been perfecting her musical craft living between Italy and the United States. Previously releasing music as MIMES OF WINE, Vever is the first album under her own name and presents Loriga’s vision of beauty in music, as inspired by her time living in New York and the inspirational moments, artists and friends that left a mark on her there.

Opener Mimi begins with abrasive, dissonant viola before breaking out into a soft yet driven 5/4 rhythm. Loriga’s harmonised dual vocals ground the listener within a hypnotic organ melody that floats between the major and minor. Door Ajar introduces a different texture altogether, driven by a sinister riff on the upright bass and ornamented with beautifully vibrating ambient effects. Layered is a word that applies to much of Loriga’s music, with bits of subtle instrumentation hiding in between the gentle drones of organs and keeping things fresh on repeat listens. The album’s credits refer to all kinds of intriguing musical instruments, such as the nyckelharpa and the dilruba – a kind of keyed fiddle, and bowed sitar, respectively – which combine to make up an alien-sounding yet organic soundscape.

Loriga’s music is hard to put in a box, with influences ranging from dark folk, chamber pop and classical, and not afraid to stray outside the traditional song form. The sonic palette is varied and non-conventional without being grating – there is a gentle simplicity to the songs which invites the listener in and then starts unveiling more of the hidden layers. The material too, has a sense of familiarity without being derivative. One is reminded of works like DAVID SYLVIAN’s Secrets of the Beehive, or ULVER’s experimentation with ambient drone in Shadows Of The Sun, while those familiar with the works of A.A. WILLIAMS or EMMA RUTH RUNDLE will find a lot to like about the haunting atmosphere. In other words, Vever is broad in its potential appeal, without sounding quite like any of its associations.

Above the instrumental layers, Loriga’s warm voice stars as the focal point of the songs. Full of range and character, it delivers many high points throughout the album – from a striking refrain and acapella outro in the madrigal-like You Who Speaks, to the dramatic appeal of “Don’t leave just yet” in organ-based ballad August Bells. The final trio of songs are among the record’s best, and with Vever clocking in at just 37-minutes, can easily inspire you to reach for the replay button. By combining beauty and mystique, accessibility and experimentation, LAURA LORIGA delivers a strong artistic statement which will surprise and delight listeners from many backgrounds.

Rating: 8/10

Vever - Laura Loriga

Vever is out now via God Unknown Records.

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