Oh, the dreaded trend of making capital letters expendable in album titles strikes again. A trait that extends to each of the eleven tracks that carry the inner thoughts and desires of a Canadien songwriter expressing their whims via the medium of mild electronica mixed with more organic fare. On the other hand who makes these rules and sometimes it's far more productive to ride the tide if the surf is good. Ada Lea has steered from the concise punchy route when naming her second album following a 2019 debut which may or may not have any relevance to her latest release. However viewed through a stand alone lens there is a sonic charm to a collection that peeps out from an indie hole with a magnetic appeal to anybody who likes a slice of alt-folk pop with shades of singer-songwriter sentiment.
This album with the lengthy title fills a slot in my listening schedule that was occupied by Jess Williamson and Phoebe Bridgers in 2020. The release has had a protracted lead in period populated by a trio of sample tracks that now blend into the body of a record dreamy by nature and chill inducing when left to simmer and prosper. Occasionally the listening experience is jolted by a sudden deviation, but such albums perhaps need re-energisers from time to time.
The utter delight from this Ada Lea album comes in the shape of 'my love 4 u is real' bestowed with some twangy guitar and a melody that melts the heart. This is almost trumped by the engaging opener 'damn' and the achingly seductive closer 'Hurt', the latter at least in the path it takes from artist to attentive ear. Throughout the wispy light vocals subtly create a comforting tone and the production provides the oxygen for the album to thrive in whatever key or frequency is dialled up.
The music of Ada Lea sprouts from a generational hold up but grows across a wider spectrum. It reserves its spot in a listening repertoire and challenges likeminded contemporaries to move it over.