Review Summary: complementary contradiction
About midway through
Blood, there's a single moment when any semblance of instrument or sound, down to Lianne La Havas' soft, controlled breaths seems to cease for a fleeting moment as she sings with breathy, almost breathless conviction, “wasn't it kind of wonderful,” over and over. La Havas' voice adopts different inflection with every repeat of phrase as if she's battling several emotions trying to convince herself of her words' truth. In her final sing of “wasn't it kind of wonderful,” time stops to wonder what this woman has endured to age her with such completion, magnitude and power. However, if
Blood's album cover is any indication, Lianne La Havas isn't aged. In fact, she's vibrant everywhere, from her elegant figure to her healthy, uninhibited curls, fully deserving of just as sunny a backdrop. Moreover, clear and bronzed skin aglow, La Havas is
young at 25 - younger than many who don't appear nearly as matured or self-aware. Still, each time she repeats her sad, yet joyous anthem of “wasn't it kind of wonderful,” she departs from reality to twenty years later, where she sits on her porch reflecting on her marriage of fifteen years and two teenage boys, all whilst reminiscing on her torrid love affair once upon a time. Reality does set however, wise to La Havas' real age, which is decades prior to this future. So, I'm left to conclude that La Havas sounds grown in
spite of her age. And it is this all-encompassing sense that is
Blood's crowning achievement. Nostalgia from far away underlies this entire piece, fusing a twisted amalgam of grief (mourning past joys and sorrows) and hope (subsisting in former triumphs), together with La Havas' specific essence to craft a complementary contradiction of young and old, craze and calm. Sometimes, La Havas even transcends her bodily maturation to change into some sort of spiritual state, singing for hundreds of thousands of voices, bearing their burdens for them - her petite body carrier of one huge human soul; every utterance, sound and lilt she releases comprising a part.
Every song on
Blood seems to identify with one feeling and path of intent, yet each sounds familiar, close to
intimate, as La Havas' voice lingers with coziness, blanketing listeners with real secrets and genuine emotion. Pulsating bass intact, “Unstoppable” soars, a gust of wind uplifting, and cutting through dense clouds of rustling atmosphere to fly above, where Lianne is clear to move and see. Clarity of liberation in “Unstoppable” transforms into clarity of pride in “Green and Gold,” which details her journey from confused kid to confident adult with brass on cue to emphasize this change. La Havas adjusts slight bombast to soft pictures in some cases. Soft thumping surrounding deliberate, yet ginger guitar plucking, and lofty strings serve “Wonderful” as bringers of quiet mischief, adding a coyness to “Wonderful” that is missed in sole regard to bittersweet lyrics. In “Good Goodbye,” strings seem engrained, almost rolling inside La Havas' vocal chords, where there's a switch readily flicked with every end of phrase, signaling them to crescendo momentously. However, sparse piano steals this show, imbuing a resolve that these coordinated, cinematic strings don't, strengthening La Havas' attitude every time declares, “I don't need faith, I just need proof,” rather than letting her crumble. Other times, La Havas treads a middle ground between passionate declaration and innermost thought. “Tokyo” has a simple groove that glides with effortless comfort. Instead of attempting big build-ups, scorned shrieks and cracked whispers, “Tokyo” maintains composure, pacing and character with high-flown background vocals, a chill, fashionable chorus, and La Havas' soulful voice assisting.
Picking a favorite on
Blood is pure preference. Although every track has individual appeal, they share common beginnings. La Havas reflects on love in various forms and stages, and, even though heavily leaning toward heart fixing,
Blood isn't vulnerable, which surprises. Rather than indulge her heart, she applies a reflective, even objective stance. Astute observations abound,
Blood doesn't act overzealous or complain. Instead,
Blood is strong and assured - qualities La Havas plays no small role in, for she is
Blood.
