Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Since 1907
Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Calvin University's official student newspaper since 1907

Calvin University Chimes

Lianne La Havas’ album offers soulful voice, dynamic sound

Chase away school blues with Lianne La Havas’ album “Blood.”

If the loss of summer has set in and syllabi are overwhelming, don’t pull out the sweatpants and scarves just yet. Lianne La Havas’s latest album, “Blood” will keep heads in the clouds and slow the transition into the chilly fall season. R&B harmonies, brassy interludes and solid beats appear throughout the album, accompanying La Havas’s rich, warm voice. While reminiscent of earlier styles, the album displays its own distinctive and dynamic sound.

Besides the soulful style, her lyrics are personal and reflective. The track “Wonderful” explores a failed relationship, which the writer still idealizes even after her breakup. In the ballad “Ghost,” La Havas provides herself with a simple electric guitar accompaniment, returning to her roots as a singer-songwriter. “Green and Gold” is probably the most autobiographical track on the album. Its beautifully simple and honest lyrics explore La Havas’s ethnic Jamaican and Greek heritage, hence the album title “Blood,” as she reflects on her childhood and her growth in self acceptance and confidence.

However personal, the album is also accessible; “What You Don’t Do” will encourage singing along within a few bars. Let Lianne La Havas aid the fade into fall foliage. Her soulful voice and solid beats will keep panic at bay while tackling the next six projects due this week

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