Just out of sight on ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’, Lianne La Havas’ accomplished debut, was a looming sense of stardom. A superb vocalist, stylish guitarist and the author of low-key, almost effortlessly charming pop songs, she nevertheless displayed a self-deprecating wit live and was very much happy to enjoy the moment. ‘Blood’ is a little different. It’s grander in scope and at times bristles with fresh confidence as La Havas paints from a more expansive palette of sounds.
She’s happier to cut loose here, pushing into her upper register and letting the dramatic side of her music take centre stage. Unstoppable, the first single to be taken from the record, displayed that clearly, its chorus punched out in first-class ballad fashion.
No artist wants to be considered old-fashioned, but in some ways that element of La Havas’ writing is the best thing about ‘Blood’. At its heart, it’s a collection of fine songs poised to break down defences and sweep people from their feet.
There are moments when new textures offer a glimpse of something more experimental in La Havas’ future - not least Never Get Enough’s grimy riff break - but for now the prospect is a little way down the list of priorities.
What You Don’t Do and Wonderful sketch out the two sides to the 'Blood' coin. The first is a bold, upbeat love song, the second a quiet, ethereal track on which an electrical motif crackles through finger clicks. La Havas sounds at home on both, but there’s a sense that the latter might be the sort of blueprint that sticks around for review at a later date. Of the record’s slow ones, it’s the one that lingers in the memory.
Green and Gold, like Au Cinéma from her debut, moves on an initially imperceptible groove and is the cornerstone. Inspired by the trip to Jamaica La Havas took with her mother prior to recording, it’s the closest she comes to documenting the creative fire it lit. “Those eyes you gave to me, they let me see where I come from,” she sings.
While La Havas steers clear of out and out change, to dismiss ‘Blood’ simply as ‘Is Your Love Big Enough?’ mark two is to overlook the quality of its best songs and also the power with which it’s delivered. Album three is apparently already on La Havas’ radar and it should be on ours, too.
Lianne La Havas Upcoming Tour Dates are as follows:
Thu December 03 2015 - DUBLIN Olympia
Fri December 04 2015 - BIRMINGHAM Institute
Sat December 05 2015 - BOURNEMOUTH O2 Academy Bournemouth
Mon December 07 2015 - CAMBRIDGE Corn Exchange
Tue December 08 2015 - BRISTOL O2 Academy Bristol
Wed December 09 2015 - GLASGOW O2 ABC
Fri December 11 2015 - MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Sat December 12 2015 - LEEDS O2 Academy Leeds
Mon December 14 2015 - LONDON O2 Academy Brixton
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