Crystal voice, wry tunes
The best thing about E-music is the opportunity to discover artists who would have always been favorites if only you knew of them. Leah Zicari is right up there for lovers of female singer-songwriters. Crystal clear voice appeal with autobiographical songs ("This is me"). Guitar-based accompaniments are graced by tight percussion and beautifully understated backing vocals. Favorites for me are the sensual and yearning "Thursday in December"; "Spinning", with its hypnotic development (echoes of Suzanne Vega, perhaps); the tuneful, wistful "I wanna be wrong"; the catchy, crazy "Run". The closer "Goodbye" is almost chilling in its frankness, but rounds out the set leaving the listener feeling privileged to have joined Leah for the excursion. Gay/lesbian pride never sounded better than this (together with the excellent, oddly named trio "Girlyman" (on emusic too) - and if that isn't your thing, compare, say, Corrinne May, or Monica Schroeder. You go, grrrl!
