Liza Flume grabbed attention with her ‘What We Called Love’ song, a track which marked her out as an interesting folk/singer-songwriter prospect with looped harmony abilities. She expands on those characteristics on her debut EP Full Steam Ahead preferring to eschew traditional band arrangements for more innovative creative methods. The opening track ‘Swords’ matches soaring background harmonies, guitar and Liza’s lilting vocals. The threadbare atmosphere leaves room for emotion to develop through the notes. ‘Wasting Away’ loops the vocals for the same effect and throughout, Liza’s soulful/bluesy expressive timbre carries much of the weight against the finger-clicking rhythm of ‘Poison In My Veins’ and ‘In Time’. Full Steam Ahead is an impressive first outing for the young Aussie Irish-based songwriter. Onwards and listen:
(Buy the EP on Toast Office Records from Bandcamp)
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005. He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Cara Magazine, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, co-founder of Lumo Club, event curator, Indie Sleaze club promoter, and producer of gigs and monthly listening parties & events in Dublin.
