|
Artist: Rebecca Lappa Title: Myths and Monsters Review by Melissa Nastasi
Rebecca Lappa is no stranger to music. The prodigal young musician, is only a mere 15 years old. But don't let her age fool you...Lappa will strike you as a performer twice her age, as her heartfelt lyrics come straight from her soul. Hailing from Edmonton, Canada, the teen channels the likes of a young Fiona Apple and Tori Amos, which is quite an impressive feat at any age. Lappa has been making waves in Canada for the past couple of years and is ready to share her story with the world, as she received a Young Performer of the Year nomination for her debut, Not in Neverland, at the 2011 Canadian Folk Awards. 2012 already has seen Rebecca as one of the top six finalists of the All-Albertan Song Contest, and she has also received a Songwriting Boot Camp prize in the Sonic Youth category at the Calgary Folk Festival Songwriting Competition, as well as participating in this summer's Galaxie Young Performers Program at the Winnipeg Folk Festival. With all of this phenomenal experience in tow, Lappa has just recently released her sophomore effort, Myths and Monsters, a stunning collection of songs that will grab your very heartstrings.
Opening with the mystifying track, “Carpet Factory,” the beauty in Lappa's songwriting is already brought to the table. Her haunting and seductive vocals fill the room with a tone that is not only vibrant, but gorgeous. “Unicorn” is as whimsical as the name states, though there is a deeper meaning. “We could all be free,” and “The forest is my refuge,” sings Lappa, as she pours her heart and soul out, while playing an exquisite piano underneath her charming tones. Immediately following is “The Bargain,” a piece so captivating that you will not be able to stop listening. The retro song creates an eerie tone over the record, as Lappa's voice is so compelling that it it borders on Operatic.
“Devil's Child,” brings out a bit of unexpected blues influences from Lappa, truly proving that she is a young woman of many hats. The sultry crooning within her voice creates the perfect piece of musical ecstasy. “Pitter Patter,” is an enchanting and playful piece, that has a beautiful simplicity in both the piano tone as well as Lappa's soft vocals.
The most standout of the tracks on Myths and Monsters is the incredible and sensational “Soon,” which has the making of a hit. The brightly strummed acoustics, which accompanies a brilliant piano, combine with Lappa's amazingly smooth voice to create a bit of roughness around the edges. Her songwriting abilities are beyond impressive, as she accomplishes what most musicians strive for their whole career.
“The Waltz,” is a touching song that blends Rebecca's enthusiastic voice while a brilliantly bright piano is played throughout. A soft string section wanders into the background, but does not go unnoticed. This is a nice contrast in the album as it takes the music to a whole other level. You can literally feel the passion in Lappa's vocals as she sings every note with such grace. This is the perfect song to close out the album, as it manages to sum up everything that is beautiful about these pieces. Upon first glance, they may seem to have simplicity to them, but don't let that fool you. They are indeed very complex, and heartwarming to say the least.
Rebecca Lappa's Myths and Monsters will surely intrigue you with her astonishing musical abilities that she surely does deliver on. This only the beginning for Lappa, as you should make sure she is a name you watch out for. This impressive sophomore effort is only the beginning of what is to become of Rebecca Lappa's musical career. Wise beyond her years, she is already, a seasoned musician that will have no problem grabbing your attention.
Review by Melissa Nastasi Rating: 5 Stars (out of 5)
|
