LISA REDFORD’S 2003 debut ‘Slipstream’ garnered immediate critical acclaim and became a favourite of Bob Harris on his Saturday show on Radio 2. The instant exposure won her opening live slots for alt-country heroes and heroines like The Handsome Family, Laura Veirs and Kathryn Williams. For her second long-player ‘Lost Again’ she’s recruited the estimable Gabe Minnikin (whose own solo debut was greeted warmly by W&H last year) for production duties.
‘Lost Again’ is a solid collection of old-fashioned country tinged songs. It is also something of a disappointment. The album never really catches fire and the arrangements err on the side of caution, lacking bite or edge. Too many of REDFORD’S songs sit in the comfort zone of verse/chorus/verse and employ the safety net of mid-tempo acoustic strumming or light balladry. It’s a shame as her lyrics often evoke strong passions as on ‘Wildfire’ where she sings ‘out of control like a wildfire burning’ but in its musical setting she sounds no hotter that a warm cup of cocoa. ‘Universe’ and ‘You Will Know’ could be so much richer and more satisfying if they could cast off their lacklustre production shackles. I’m amazed that Minnikin has merely acted as an airbrush over these songs particularly as his own self-produced debut virtually sweated with atmosphere.
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Maybe I’m missing the point and this ‘easy on the ear’ arrangement is what pleases REDFORD and her target audience. I just feel that she is hiding her light under a bushel by accepting such a commercial sound for her creative efforts.
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